A neighbourhood to live in, not just "tick off"

The Quartiere Prati (Prati district) doesn't have the marquee monuments of the historic centre, but it has real character and a handful of stops worth discovering, all wrapped in an authentically Roman atmosphere. Here's what to see.

Piazza Cavour and the Palazzaccio

Prati's signature landmark is the Palace of Justice, nicknamed by Romans the "Palazzaccio" (roughly, "the big ugly palace"): a vast Umbertine building overlooking Piazza Cavour, home to the Supreme Court of Cassation. With its imposing bulk, its statues and the great bronze quadriga on the roof, it's one of the most dramatic (and most argued-about) buildings of post-unification Rome. Facing the Tiber, just steps from Castel Sant'Angelo, it's well worth a pause.

Via Cola di Rienzo: the shopping

The backbone of the neighbourhood is Via Cola di Rienzo, one of Rome's leading shopping streets: department stores, boutiques, historic shops and delis. It's ideal for a stroll that mixes browsing and tasting, in a far less hectic atmosphere than the streets downtown. We give it its own guide: shopping on Via Cola di Rienzo.

Want to explore the Quartiere Prati at your own pace, with no logistics to worry about?

My Rome Driver takes you right by the Vatican with a private driver and waits for your next stop. Fixed price, door to door.

Check availability and get a quote

Reply within 30 minutes · Fixed price · Free cancellation up to 24h before

The Sacro Cuore del Suffragio and the Museum of Souls

Along the Tiber embankment stands the church of the Sacro Cuore del Suffragio, whose unusual neo-Gothic façade has earned it the nickname "the little Milan Cathedral". Inside it holds one of Rome's most curious museums, the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory, with alleged traces left by the souls of the departed. We cover it in the guide the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory.

The Mercato Trionfale

To experience everyday Rome, the Mercato Trionfale (covered market) is worth a stop: one of the city's largest covered markets, with hundreds of stalls of fruit, vegetables, fish, cheeses and local specialities. It's the perfect place to soak up that "neighbourhood" feel and stock up on treats.

The Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo right next door

Prati borders Vatican City and Castel Sant'Angelo: after visiting St Peter's or the Vatican Museums, it's only natural to treat yourself to a walk along Prati's avenues, a little shopping and a good restaurant. That's its great advantage.

How to plan your visit

In 1-2 hours you'll see the best of it:

  1. Piazza Cavour and the Palazzaccio
  2. Via Cola di Rienzo for the shopping
  3. The Sacro Cuore del Suffragio and the Museum of Souls
  4. The Mercato Trionfale (in the morning)

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see in Quartiere Prati? Piazza Cavour with the Palace of Justice (Palazzaccio), Via Cola di Rienzo for the shopping, the church of the Sacro Cuore del Suffragio with the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory, and the Mercato Trionfale.

What is the Palazzaccio? The Roman nickname for the Palace of Justice, home to the Supreme Court of Cassation: a vast Umbertine building on Piazza Cavour, with statues and a bronze quadriga, facing the Tiber.

What is the Mercato Trionfale? One of Rome's largest covered markets, in the Prati district, with hundreds of stalls of fresh and local produce: ideal for soaking up the local atmosphere.

Is Prati good for shopping? Yes: Via Cola di Rienzo is one of Rome's main shopping streets, with big-name stores, boutiques and delis, in a relaxed atmosphere.

How much time do you need to see the neighbourhood? Around 1-2 hours for the main stops and the shopping; more if you use it as a base for the Vatican.

Read also

Book a driver for the Quartiere Prati

Fixed price · ZTL access · Door to door

Article #383 · Category: Neighbourhoods · Updated: May 2026