How to use this itinerary
The itinerary is designed for a morning visit. Ideal departure: 7:00–7:30. At this hour the Trevi Fountain is almost deserted, the light is soft, and photographs without crowds are possible. As the morning progresses, sites become gradually busier: the Pantheon opens at 9:00 and fills quickly, while Piazza di Spagna is less critical in terms of crowds in the morning.
ZTL note: the entire area is a ZTL zone. Arrive on foot, by public transport, or with a private driver (who can wait on Via del Tritone).
Stop 1: Trevi Fountain (7:00–7:45)
Where: Piazza di Trevi, Rione Trevi
Arriving early is the most important decision of the entire morning. Before 8:00 the piazza is almost deserted and you can walk freely around the fountain, approach the balustrade, and photograph from every angle.
What to see:
- The complete fountain from the centre of the piazza: Neptune in the centre, the chariot pulled by sea horses guided by tritons, Palazzo Poli as backdrop
- The left group: Abundance by Filippo della Valle
- The right group: Healthfulness of the Waters, also by della Valle
- The travertine base and architectural details: columns, niches, reliefs
The coin ritual: if you want to do it, early morning is the best time — no jostling.
Recommended time: 45 minutes.
Stop 2: Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio (7:45–8:00)
Where: Piazza di Trevi (facing the fountain)
The church facing the fountain is less known to tourists but is linked to a singular historical fact: for centuries it kept the viscera of deceased popes in reliquaries (the practice ended with Leo XIII in 1903). The Baroque façade is the work of Martino Longhi the Younger (1646–50).
Recommended time: 15 minutes (exterior).
Stop 3: Via Veneto walk (8:00–8:20)
Route: from the fountain, walk up to Piazza Barberini and along Via Veneto towards the Pine Park.
Via Veneto is the street of the Dolce Vita of the 1950s and '60s — historic cafés, luxury hotels, an elegant atmosphere now faded but still recognisable. The tables of historic cafés (Café de Paris, Harry's Bar) are not open at dawn, but the walk is pleasant.
Recommended time: 20 minutes (walk).
Stop 4: Fontana del Tritone and Fontana delle Api at Piazza Barberini (8:20–8:40)
Where: Piazza Barberini
Two Bernini fountains within a hundred metres of each other.
Fontana del Tritone (1642–1643): Bernini depicts the triton blowing a conch shell, raised by four dolphins on a papal coat of arms. Commissioned by Urban VIII Barberini.
Fontana delle Api (1644): small corner fountain. The bees are the heraldic symbol of the Barberini. Originally a public watering trough for horses.
Recommended time: 20 minutes.
Stop 5: Palazzo Barberini / Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (8:40–9:00 or longer visit)
Where: Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13
The palace was designed by Carlo Maderno, then continued by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. It now houses the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, with works by Raphael, Caravaggio (Judith and Holofernes, Narcissus), and Hans Holbein the Younger (Henry VIII of England).
If you want to visit the interior: opens at 10:00, ticket required. Allow at least 1.5–2 hours.
If continuing the external itinerary: observe the façade (two distinct wings — Bernini's wing with the helical staircase inside, Borromini's wing on the opposite side).
Recommended time: 20 minutes (exterior) or 2 hours (interior).
Stop 6: Pantheon (9:00–10:00)
Where: Piazza della Rotonda (15 minutes on foot from Piazza Barberini)
The Pantheon is one of the most perfect monuments of antiquity. Built by Agrippa (27 BC), rebuilt by Hadrian (around 125 AD), converted into a church in 609. Opens at 9:00. Ticket required (€5).
What to see:
- The Roman concrete dome: 9-metre oculus, light that changes with the sun
- The portico with 12-metre monolithic Egyptian granite columns
- The tombs of Raphael and the kings of Italy (Victor Emmanuel II, Umberto I)
Recommended time: 45–60 minutes.
Stop 7: Piazza Navona (10:00–11:00)
Where: 10 minutes on foot from the Pantheon
Rome's most Baroque piazza. Three Bernini fountains: at the centre the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (1651) — Nile, Rio de la Plata, Danube, Ganges — on an Egyptian obelisk.
Alongside: the Fontana del Moro (1654) and the Fontana di Nettuno (originally just a basin, completed in the 19th century).
The church of Sant'Agnese in Agone (Borromini façade) looks directly onto the piazza.
Recommended time: 45–60 minutes.
End of itinerary
The itinerary ends at Piazza Navona, from which you can:
- Return to the centre (Campo de' Fiori 5 minutes away, Trastevere 15 minutes on foot)
- Continue towards Castel Sant'Angelo (20 minutes on foot towards the Tiber)
- Stop for lunch nearby (Sant'Eustachio il Caffè for coffee, many trattorias in the area)
Logistics and transport
Getting there at the start: Barberini metro (line A), then 700 metres on foot. Or a private driver service — the most comfortable option for those arriving from outside Rome, or travelling with children or luggage.
Do the Trevi and surroundings itinerary with a private driver: direct arrival at the fountain in the early morning hours and accompaniment to the following stops. Service from €49. → Book your driver at myromedriver.com
Itinerary map (walking distances)
| Stop | Distance from previous |
|---|---|
| Trevi Fountain | — |
| Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio | 50 m |
| Piazza Barberini / Via Veneto | 600 m |
| Palazzo Barberini | 300 m |
| Pantheon | 1.5 km |
| Piazza Navona | 600 m |
| Total | ~3 km |
Frequently asked questions
How long does this itinerary take? At least 3–4 hours for the external stops. A full day if you include a visit to the interior of Palazzo Barberini or the Galleria Nazionale.
Is it better to start early in the morning? Yes. The Trevi Fountain is almost deserted before 8:00. The Pantheon opens at 9:00 and fills quickly — arriving at opening time is recommended.
Can you do the itinerary with children? Yes. All external stops are suitable for children. Factor in the children's pace and add gelato stops (Gelato di San Crispino is steps away from the fountain).
Article no. 98 — TIER S — MON-05 Trevi Fountain Type: PRACTICAL Words: ~1,200