Rome neighborhoods: Prati

The Prati zone in Rome is one of the chicest in the city. It rises on the right bank of the Tiber river and is part of the 1^st Municipio together with Borgo, Della Vittoria and Trionfale zones.
 

The Prati zone over time
At the end of the 19th century the road structure of Prati was consolidated and most of the houses had been built. Via Cola di Rienzo was the main street because it crossed the whole neighborhood, joining Piazza della Libertà to * Piazza Risorgimento *. There was a direct connection with Margherita bridge that prevented the dome of San Pietro and Castel Sant’Angelo from being seen, two symbols of papal power that were, at that time, opposed by those laic politicians who were distant from the Pope’s ideas.
From 1870 onwards, many buildings that led to populating the area and above all to connecting the different areas raised in Prati di Castello. The creation of the iron walkway on the Ripetta stairway that allows to reach Cahen zone dates back to 1879. The greatest success of urban projects was represented by the inauguration of the Margherita, Umberto and Cavour bridges that allowed the new residential area to be finally accessible from different points in the center.
 

The Prati zone today
Prati is one of the most prestigious areas of Rome. It is a decidedly central area of the Capital and, therefore, ideal for those who need to easily reach the heart of the city. The streets of the zone are animated by numerous shops and clubs and it is considered the best place to get to know the real Capitoline inhabitants. There are not many attractions and therefore the area is little visited by tourists, but the tranquility and the services are the two strengths of the neighborhood.
 

Where to go in Prati
One of the peculiarities of Rome is the number of churches, which also Prati does not lack of. Among the worthy civil and military architectures, we note the Adriano Theatre, the Palace of Justice that houses the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Civil Court of Rome and the Army barracks and Arma dei Carabinieri with the annexed Museo Storico dell’Arma. Being very close to the historic center of the Capital, the zone is well connected to the most important areas of the city through several bus lines and Lepanto Metro A stop, which runs through the center allowing to reach Piazza di Spagna in two stops and Termini in four stops. When in Prati, you are a stone’s throw away from the center and close to the Vatican, so you have the opportunity to see the famous Piazza Cavour with its monument and its well-kept garden, the famous Palazzaccio that houses the Court of Cassation and some museums, as well as the synagogue of the city. In here there are also some of the best restaurants of Rome, so you have a wide choice of traditional cuisine, presented excellently at the Pizzeria San Marco and at the Arcangelo, whose food revisit the typical dishes in a modern key. There are places to enjoy the nouvelle cuisine and ice cream shops ready to offer the tastiest preparations: Fatamorgana, Gracchi and Al Settimo Gelo.
Nightlife is not far behind. In fact, if you want to go out, find live music venues, bars where you can enjoy excellent appetizers with buffet appetizers and the after-dinner movement, Mazzini and Antonini are the most famous ones. There are also pubs and jazz clubs throughout the neighborhood. They are a good way to be in contact with the locals. Among the most fashionable bars, Bar Bar, The Place, Fonclea and Alexanderplatz stand out. Most nights there are live performances with various genres of jazz and other types of music. There are many shops to satisfy every need, there are several offices and foreign representatives that maintain relations with the Vatican. In this zone there are the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory and Profondo Rosso, a museum with a horror theme created by Dario Argento.