An expert walking itinerary to see the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, plus several fascinating attractions on the way. By a Rome local.
Trevi Fountain and Pantheon are two of the most famous attractions in Rome and since they are both in the city center, they are easy to visit together.
If you were to just go from one to the other, the walk would take less than 10 minutes and if you were just to take these two attractions in isolation, all you’d need is a map to tell you the quickest way.
However, I recommend you look at it a little differently!
Rome is more than then sum of its attractions, it is an open air museums that immerses you in beautiful and history running over the course of millennia, and this area of the city is one of the best to tap into this very special aspect of the city. Today, I want to help you do just that!
I am from Rome and I adore my city. Each corner, street and stone has a story and it is my pleasure to share them with you, in that very special way no map or machine can do.
This is my selection of the best itinerary between Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, with the best things to see and their stories.
Tip for families with kids! If your kids love scavenger hunts, I have printable ones for them that follow this very itienerary! You can find them here: they have this area but also other walking itineraries from this website.
Trevi to Pantheon walking itinerary map
Start at the Trevi Fountain
This walking itinerary starts at the Trevi Fountain. The Fountains is usually at its quietest in the early morning, but you can visit any time: if you are here when many others are, just be patient and make your way to as close to the fountain as you can.
Usually, even when overrun, it is possible and even easy to get close to the water and take beautiful photos.
The Fountains dates from 1758 and is a marvel. It’s water comes from the Virgo Aqueduct, which has been bringing water to Rome for centuries: if you notice at the top of the fountain, there is a mention of it!
The main statues on the fountain represent Oceanus, with two horses: an agitated one, representing agitated and dangerous seas, and a calmer one, representing the seas when gentle to the sailors.
Many more decorations appear on the fountain and I recommend you pay attention to one that may seem inconspicuous: a large, ruund vase to the right of the fountain (your right, if you look at the fountain). The vase has a funny story!
It is said that a barber used to have a shop beside the fountain.
He had been there before construction work started and he didn’t take lightly the noise and disruption the construction of the fountain caused. He was very vocal about it so the fountain architect deiced to tae a small revenge on him: when the fountain was done, he places the big vase just in front of his shop, to ruin the view for him!
You can find here >> my guide to the Trevi Fountain
Spot Madonnelle
Walk along via delle Muratte and then turn left at the McDonald’s to reach Galleria Sciarra.
On your way, look up at the houses, especially at crossroads and see if you can identify images of the Virgin. These are called Madonnelle (little madonnas) and they are common in this part of Rome.
They have been there for centuries to protect the passers by and they are especially common at forks, to protect the walker when making a decision about he road to take .
Admire Galleria Sciarra
Take a minute to admire the inner yard of Gelleria Sciarra, incredibly decorated!
See Piazza Colonna
Cross the road and take a minute to take in Piazza Colonna. Piazza Colonna has two main things you may want to notice:
Palazzo Chigi, which is one of the seats of the Italian Government, the Predicency of the Council of Miniters
The column in its center.
The column at the center of Piazza Colonna dates back to Emperor Marcus Aurelius and is a column ‘coclide’, meaning a column with a spiral motif.
The motif is what is truly interesting here as it is not just a decoration: the carving asctlly tells the story of the war victoties of the emperor and develops like a film, from the bottom to the top of the column!
This characteristic is almost unique: the original idea comes from a columns near here, the Column of Trajan, which has the first of its kind and dating from just a little before this one
Walk to Piazza Sant’ignazio
I recommend you explore at leisure here, allowing yourself to also explore Piazza Capranica and the pretty streets of this area but I recommend you then take the short walk to Piazza Sant’Ingnazio, where you find the incredible church by the same name.
Make sure you peek in, this is one of my favorite hidden gems near the Pantheon!
There are two top things to see in Sant’Ingnazio:
the one everyone queues for, which is a magnifying mirror allowing you to see the details of the ceiling: the angels are painted in such as way that they see three dimensional and look as if they were floating!
The second one is closer to the altar and sis the dome: look up! Admire the dome and then admire its peculiarity: the fact that it is not a dome at all! It is only painted to look like one, as an optical illusion!
Walk to Piazza di Pietra
Piazza di Pietra is a small yet stunning piazza in Rome with something special: the massive remains of the Temple oh Hadrian.
Piazza di Pietra is closed to traffic and most of the time filled with cafes and tables: it is very atmospheric and I love it because it is beautiful but also because it is quintessentially Roman – life here simply goes on in front of the most beautiful and majestic ancient ruins you can imagine, in a true continuous of history!
Have coffee granita in caffe tazza d’oro
The Pantheon is now just about one minute walk ahead of you but if you love coffee, take an extra minute to get a coffee granita in Caffe Tazza d’Oro, a Rome institution known for having some of the best coffee in Rome (granita especially)
Piazza della rotonda and the Pantheon
And yo have arrived! The Pantheon is right tin from of you! Before you go in, I recommend you notice the obelisk in front of it.
An obelisk is a special type of decorative column Rome brought back from Egypt when they made it its colony (about I century AD). This one is called Obelisk Macuteo and it is one of the only 13 that exist in Rome, all of Egyptian provenance. You can read all about Rome obelisks here.
Enter the Pantheon
The Pantheon is beautiful to see even just from outside but if you can, I do recommend you go in even just for a peak. Entrance is ticketed. Find here >>> how to get tickets to the Pantheon.
End of your walk tip! If now you fancy a drink, you can rest on the rooftop of Iconic Pantheon Hotel, a couple of minutes from the Pantheon and one of the best rooftop terraces in Rome.
I hope you enjoyed this walking itinerary and helped you enjoy your relaxed wanderings in Rome city center even more. Safe travels!