Historic Center

In studying various piazzas in Rome it becomes clear that some are more successful than others. Certain factors contribute to some being more comfortable or easy to navigate, inhabit and use. Among the most successful are the Piazza della Rotonda and the Piazza del Popolo, and among the least are the Piazza di Trevi and Campo di Fiori.
The most successful piazzas balance size with traffic and management of the people and cars that pass through. Parts of the reasons for their success is that the Piazza della Rotonda and the Piazza del Popolo segregate car and pedestrian traffic, so that neither obstructs the other and as a pedestrian one doesn’t feel endangered by passing automobiles. This is also true of the Piazza Navona. These piazzas are also well-defined; the Piazza della Rotonda is framed by surrounding buildings that are fairly dense, and there is a clear focus on the Pantheon as the piazza’s reason for being. The Piazza del Popolo is bound by walls on three sides with the medieval gate and two walls, and the gate, obelisk, Via del Corso and Palazzo Venezia form a strong axial relationship. These piazzas are also well-sized for the amount of traffic that passes through them, so they don’t feel too constrained.
Conversely, the Piazza di Trevi and Campo di Fiore do not segregate car and pedestrian traffic, and create a sensation of constant peril for the many people passing through on foot. The Piazza di Trevi especially is occupied in large part by the fountain itself, leaving little room for the people gathered there and passing car traffic. The Campo di Fiori is bisected by a street used by cars and cars are free to pass through the piazza in any manner they wish, so as a pedestrian one has the sensation of cars all around that may move at any time.