A local’s guide to Quartiere Coppedè, a charming area of Rome away from the crowds and with a distinctive architectural style unique to this part of the city.
Rome does ‘grand’ really well.
However, Rome does ‘grand’ really well. However, Rome is most charming in its hidden neighborhood and local areas.
One of the most beautiful hidden gems in the city is the small quartiere Coppedè a small cluster of houses I highly recommend you seek out should you have more than just a couple of days in Rome.
It is an area of unique architecture, an absolute treat for architecture lovers and photographers, but it is also a lovely local area that is perfect for a leisurely walk off the beaten track.
I was lucky enough to grow up down the road from this treasure and today I decided to share this little corner of Rome with you.
I will show you what I believe to be one of the most beautiful piazzas in Rome, a unique Rome fountain and I will share my favorite food places and hotels in the area so you can experience Rome like a real local (If you see me while exploring this area, say hi!)
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What is quartiere Coppedè?
Quartiere Coppedè is a small area of Rome that takes its name from its creator, Italian architect Gino Coppedè.
Coppedè is the surname of the visionary behind this area and quartiere is the Italian for district, so you may hear this location called quartiere Coppedè or Coppedè district interchangeably in guide books to the area.
What makes the Coppede District special
Quartiere Coppedè is built in a type of architecture that is unique to this area of Rome.
It was built between 1919 and 1927, the year of Coppede’s death, and it is unique because it mixes several different architectural styles, all coming together to create something never seen before.
The strongest influence is the one from art nouveau, which you can spot in the elaborate carvings of the facades and the fountain in the center, but the attentive eye will also find references to Baroque, Greek and Roman architecture and even more ancient influences like Assyrian time.
Who should visit the Coppede’ District
The Coppede district is wonderful for architecture lovers.
While all visitors can enjoy these pretty streets, it is the lover of architectural details who’ll truly thrive in this area and will enjoy the peculiarities of this unique neighbourhood.
Curious travelers with no architectural interests can also enjoy it here.
However in that case I recommend you also visit other areas in teh Trieste-Salario neighborhood, to make the most of your time in this part of town.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission.
Where is it?
Quartiere Coppedè is just outside Rome historical center, in the Rome neighborhood Trieste Salario.
You can reach it by taxi or with buses and trams that stop on nearby Viale Liegi, Piazza Quadrata (aka Piazza Buenos Aires), Via Tagliamento and Via Po.
Trams: 3, 19
Buses: 63, 86, 92, 630
How long to visit?
The district is a small group of houses; if you just want to taste it, you do not need more than a few minutes to see what it is all about.
Coppede’ distinctive buildings cluster mostly around Piazza Mincio and only a few of them spill over onto the streets nearby, making this a very compact and easy area to visit
However, this is a place of details and I do recommend you spend a morning here.
While only part of this time will be spent looking at the architectural details themselves, there are several other buildings and attractions worth seeking out nearby and you can easily make a morning out of your visit.
What to see in Quartiere Coppedè Rome
Quartiere Coppedè has a unique atmosphere and some specific buildings and streets worth seeing.
The area develops around delightful Piazza Mincio, which is where you find Coppede’s District main attractions.
Piazza Mincio and the Fountain of the Frogs
The heart of quartiere Coppedè is Piazza Mincio, a small square surrounded by buildings by Coppedè and his team and with a fountain in the center.
The square is an interesting little place and one of the prettiest piazzas in Rome.
At its center, stands the focal point of the entire areas, a fountain called ‘Fountain of the Frogs’.
The fountain is rich in details and has carving inspired by the natural world such as animals and plants.
The most distinctive sculpture on it are cute, small frogs which give it its name (Fountains of the Frogs or, in Italian, Fontana delle Rane).
It is a lovely decorative piece and it is reminiscent of another natural themed one, the famous fountain of the turtles in Piazza Mattei, to which this one pays homage.
Once you get close ot it, you can see the frogs but also the peculiar faces with puffy cheeks that spit water out creating a nice visual and sound effect!
Around the square you have some impressive buildings.
Coppede’s Archway
The most imposing one is the large archway that acts as an entryway to the area from Via Tagliamento.
This arch connects two houses and has been built as a wink to ancient Roman architecture and its grandeur.
The arch has two sides, both elaborately carved but what is truly special about it is the inside.
If you walk under it and look up, you will see a stunning and elaborate cobalt ceiling and an outside candelabra that will make you think you stepped into a French chateau!
Residential homes on Piazza Mincio
Piazza Mincio is surrounded by notable buildings.
One one side, you find so called Palazzo del Ragno (the spider building) which you will quickly recognize because of the massive mosaic of a spider above its main entrance!
The choice of a spider as decoration can be considered peculiar but it is in line with the natural theme of most of the architectural details in the square and also seems to be a reference to the painstakingly precise work of architects.
In front, you can see another imposing and visibly elegant building with columns and black and white decorations around its main entrance and facade.
This building more than others shows the Assyrian -Babylonian influences Gino Coppede’ wanted to incorporate in its vision.
Villino delle Fate (Fairy House)
The most distinctive of all buildings here however is the so called Villino delle fate (the fairy house) a lovely building with a magical looking turret.
The building has a distinctive medieval feel to it and this is obvious not just from its distinctive shape but also the frescoes on the walk and the little loggia, which is a clear reference to architecture you find in many parts of Italy with an important medieval past.
Via Olona
Immediately beside Piazza Mincio, off Via Brenta, you find another jewel of this district: Via Olona.
Protected by a gate, Via Olona is a private road with a beautiful Art Deco style building and something special: since January 2022, a plaque commemorating the Trella family who lived here and save the children of the Supino family from the prosecution of fasci-Nazism.
Their building is now remembered as a ‘civico giusto‘ (righteous address), an initiative part of the celebration for International Remembrance Day to prevent the horrors of the Holocaust to ever happen again.
Who lives in the Coppede’ District
Walking around the Coppede’ District and its fantastical buildings, you may wonder who lives here.
The answer may surprise you: the area has a mix of Embassies, schools and normal family apartments.
The Coppede’ District in the movies
This area’s unusual and whimsical appearance has inspired several movies, such as “Inferno” and “The bird with crystal feathers” by the horror master Dario Argento, who lived nearby.
“The perfume of the lady in black” by Francesco Barilli, “Ultimo tango a Zagarolo” by Nando Cicero, “Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti” by Nanni Loy with Vittorio Gassman.
More recently, House of Gucci with Lady Gaga was filmed here.
Coppede’ neighbourhood tours
For the longest time, the Coppede’ District stayed as a Rome hidden gem, a place only locals (like me!) would take the time to explore.
Instagram however quickly brought visitors here and now you can take tours of the area. The best ones cover also nearby Villa Torlonia, another treasure trove of Art Deco wonders.
I recommend these tours to architecture lovers especially.
A couple you may like are:
Art Nouveau Rome Tour: Villa Torlonia & Coppedé Private Tour
Coppede’ District self guided tour
Where to stay near Quartiere Coppede’
If you want to stay in this delightful neighborhood, I recommend you look at the following two addresses:
Palm Gallery Hotel – small, well curated hotel in lovely Via delle Alpi, close to Villa Torlonia and a short walk to Piazza Mincio
Villa Pirandello – close to Villa Torlonia and only about ten minutes from Piazza Mincio on foot, this hotel is a nice hotel with a garden and a boutique hotel feel.
Where to eat in and near the Coppede’ District
There are no cafes and restaurants overlooking Piazza Mincio directly.
However, there are many lovely places for a meal in the vicinity.
Some I love and recommend are:
Datterino Giallo – delightful and delicious restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, with both pizza and pasta/ meat/fish dishes
Caprera – cafe’, aperitivo and lunch places in delightful Piazza Caprera
Grue – pastry shops and cafe, one of the best breakfast places in Rome
Il Pepe Verde – local restaurants with delicious dishes and pizza
What else to see near Quartiere Coppede’
Coming all the way to quartiere Coppede for a 20 minute visit may not be a good use of your time in Rome unless architecture is your passion, in which case, you will get lost here for hours!
However, there are several other things to see in and do in the area that make turn this into a wonderful off the beaten track exploration opportunity.
In this area, I recommend you see out:
Via Po, Piazza Quadrata and Vial Liegi for shopping (clothes, plus you should go to Natalizi, famous and delicious pastry shop on Via Po)
Piazza Caprera, which also has a lovely café with terrace (a fraction of the price of terraces in the center, you can actually sit here without breaking the bank)
Villa Torlonia, a lovely park with an outdoor restaurant, an interesting building reminiscent of Coppede’s architecture, two museums and a Mussolini’s bunker (occasionally open or visits)
I hope you enjoyed this local guide to my beloved Quartiere Coppede. Safe travels to Rome!
This post was originally published in 2019 and has now been fully updated.