Piazza Farnese

The Basics

The best way to visit Piazza Farnese is by joining a Rome walking, e-bike, or Segway tour that includes a stop in the 16th-century piazza along with other nearby highlights such as the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Specialty tours, including Rome by Vespa scooter, food experiences, and wine tastings, often include a visit to Piazza Farnese. The square is located just across the Tiber River from Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto, so Piazza Farnese is easily paired with a tour of one of these historic neighborhoods.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Piazza Farnese offers no shade, so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen if visiting during the hot summer months.

• A number of cafés and restaurants line the square, perfect for a meal or snack.

• Though accessible to wheelchair users, the square is not completely closed to traffic. Be cautious when crossing.

• Piazza Farnese is particularly pretty at night when the fountains and Palazzo Farnese are dramatically lit.

How to Get There

Piazza Farnese is in Rome’s historic center, an easy walk from busy Via di Torre Argentina, where a number of city bus lines stop.

When to Get There

A stroll through Piazza Farnese is particularly pretty in the light of early morning or late afternoon, or at night when the palace is dramatically lit.

The Sights on Piazza Farnese

By far the square’s most famous sight, Palazzo Farnese was begun in the early 16th century by a Farnese cardinal who would become Pope Paul III in 1534. Today Palazzo Farnese is the city's largest Renaissance palace. Other attractions on the piazza include Chiesa di Santa Brigida, former home of the Swedish saint converted into a church upon her death in the 1370s; and two fountains with huge bathing basins as their bases, once used by ancient Romans to soak away their cares at the baths of Caracalla.

Ways to explore

Though not a major tourist attraction, the piazza is just a short walk from Campo de’ Fiori, the Rome Jewish Ghetto (Ghetto Ebraico di Roma), and Piazza Navona. If you’re exploring Rome’s historic center, it’s easy to swing by to admire the fountains and take in the grandeur of the surrounding palazzos. Prebook a tour at Farnese Palace online if that’s of interest.

Joining a walking tour can offer deeper insight into the piazza’s architecture and complex history, shaped by demolitions and redesigns led by some of Rome’s most powerful families. Many tours also include stops in Trastevere and the Rome Jewish Ghetto—two of the city’s most fascinating neighborhoods.

Accessibility

Piazza Farnese is a flat, open square that can be navigated by wheelchair, though the cobblestones may pose some challenges. Palazzo Farnese, which offers guided tours, is accessible to visitors with limited mobility.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Water bottle, tote bag for shopping at nearby Campo de’ Fiori

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, sun protection (sunglasses, hat, umbrella), breathable clothing in summer

Not allowed

Bathing in fountains, drinking alcohol from glass containers in public after 10pm

Amenities

Cafés lining the square, public restroom on via Zanardelli near Piazza Navona

Address

Piazza Farnese lies on the southern edge of Rome’s historic center, where narrow streets and ZTL (limited traffic zone) rules make driving nearly impossible—walking or taking transit is much easier.

Driving

From Termini Station, turn west onto Via Nazionale. Continue along Via Quattro Novembre to Piazza Venezia, then head south on Via di San Venanzio and Via del Teatro di Marcello. Turn north onto Lungotevere de’ Cenci. Piazza Farnese lies within a ZTL (limited traffic zone)—park outside the zone and walk in.

Public transportation

Take the No. 40, 64, or 70 bus from Termini Station west along Via Nazionale. Get off the bus on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II near Piazza di Sant’Andrea della Valle and walk down Via Dei Baullari to the piazza.

Best times to visit

Piazza Farnese is open to the public at all hours. Mornings offer cooler temps, quieter streets, and a chance to enjoy the square before nearby Campo de’ Fiori and the surrounding area fill with shoppers and café-goers.

Best days to visit

Visit Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays to visit the Palazzo Farnese on guided tours (booking required).

Best months to visit

Visit in spring and early fall for the most pleasant weather, either April to June or late September through October.

Special events

The Festa della Musica takes place around the summer solstice inside the Palazzo Farnese, overlooking the piazza. Held in collaboration with the Spring Attitude Festival, the free event typically features electronic music performances and sound and cinematic projections.