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Neighborhood

Via Margutta: A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Rome

Explore Rome's most artistic street—where film legends, sculptors, and painters have left their mark.

Ornate street lamp and Via Margutta sign on peeling wall near Rome Luxury Suites

Tucked between two of Rome’s busiest landmarks—Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) and Piazza del Popolo—Via Margutta is a quiet, ivy-draped retreat from the city’s bustle. Just three blocks long and nestled beneath Villa Borghese, this picturesque street is a haven for art lovers, romantics, and travelers seeking a slower rhythm of Roman life. Once a medieval alleyway lined with stables and storerooms behind the noble facades of Via del Babuino, Via Margutta transformed in the 19th century as artists from across Europe began moving in. By the early 20th century, it had become the creative epicenter of Rome—home to painters, sculptors, writers, and eventually, filmmakers. Today, it retains its bohemian spirit, blending independent galleries, antique shops, and boutique hotels with timeless elegance.

 

 

A Self-Guided Walk Along Via Margutta

 

 

Begin your stroll at Margutta 19—our 5-star luxury suites and the perfect base for exploring this enchanting neighborhood.

 

  • Via Margutta 110

The former residence of legendary Italian film director Federico Fellini and his wife Giulietta Masina. A discreet plaque marks the spot. Fellini's favorite haunt, Bar Canova in Piazza del Popolo, is nearby.

 

  • Via Margutta 53b

Visit La Bottega del Marmoraro, a marble workshop established in 1967. Personalize a Roman-style plaque to take home.

 

  • Via Margutta 51

Featured in the 1953 film Roman Holiday as Gregory Peck’s residence. Fans still visit this private, gated address.

 

  • Via Margutta 54

The elegant courtyard of the Moncada family and home to Margutta 54. Once host to over 1,800 artists—including Pablo Picasso in 1917.

 

  • Fontana degli Artisti

Created by Pietro Lombardi in 1927, this whimsical fountain features sculpted masks and brushes. A tribute to the street's artistic soul.

 

 

Just Beyond Via Margutta

 


Turn right on Via Alibert until it meets Via del Babuino—one of the three streets of the famed Trident alongside Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta.

 

  • Baboon Fountain (Fontana del Babuino)

Two blocks right on Via del Babuino, see the statue of Silenus, once mocked as a "baboon". Behind it, visit Café Canova Tadolini—a sculpture-filled atelier turned café.

 

  • Spanish Steps

Continue left to reach Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps. Visit the Keats-Shelley Memorial House on the right or enjoy high tea at Babington’s Tea Room on the left.

 

 

Concierge Tip

 


Return to Via Margutta for a garden aperitivo at Emme Restaurant, hidden behind ivy- covered walls. Ask our concierge for walking tour suggestions or access to private artist studios nearby.

 

 

Via Margutta may be small—but its story, style, and soul are unmistakably grand.