Rome, italy

I sip on my frothy cappuccino outside Café Miani on a shady street of Piazza Cavour, feeling the warmth of the early morning sun creep through the trees above my table. Looking across the busy street, I smile at Camillo, now green with age, watching proudly from his granite and marble pedestal as pedestrians, shopkeepers, businessmen alike walk briskly on their morning commute.

            Piazza Cavour is a square located on the edge of Rome’s Prati district, minutes away from the Ponti Umberto I bridge. Designed by Italian engineer Angelo Vescovali and dedicated to Italian entrepreneur and statesman Camilo Benso di Cavour, the piazza and the nearby bridge have been around since the late 1800’s. The piazza stands in the shadow of the stunning Palazzaccio, the Italian Palace of Justice. It houses the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Bar association of Rome and was designed at the same time as the piazza by Italian architect Guglielmo Calderini.

Restaurants and Dining

Nearby one will find charming coffee shops, banks, restaurants, and other businesses looking out onto the center of the square. There are new mothers pushing strollers and proud dog owners holding leashes, both taking a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood. Local businessmen and tourists alike disappear inside one of the many coffee shops, only to return moments later with fresh cappuccinos and pastries before rushing off to start their day.

Some of these popular coffee shops include the stylish Camillo B. and the swift Café Miani. Across the street you’ll find the sophisticated Enoteca Constantini and Bar Touring Café which are coffee shops by day and wine bars by night.

Nightlife

As the sun sets on Piazza Cavour and the sky fades into starlight, the square comes to life in a new way. Lights from store windows cast a warm glow on the sidewalk outside. The grassy center of the piazza offers a quiet, romantic atmosphere that’s perfect for a date. One may catch a glimpse of two people holding hands on the sidewalk, or discreetly opening a bottle of wine on one of the park benches. Teenagers gather, chattering in Italian on park benches, lounging in the lush grass, or congregating under the trees as they discuss which movie to see at Teatro Adriano down the street. Locals greet friends in the cafés that have switched into evening restaurants as laughter spills out on the street.

Piazza Cavour offers a variety of businesses and attractions that are frequented by locals living nearby or discovered by visitors new to the area. Piazza Cavour is a must-see for anyone who finds himself the Prati district, offering a authentic Italian experience both day and night.