Via Margutta in Rome: The artists’ street
Hidden behind the famous stairway of Piazza di Spagna, there is a small street where the city noise disappears and the flowers scent fulfill your nostrils, where local artisans are mixed with chic boutiques, art galleries and lively restaurants to relive the years of the Dolce Vita. All this and more is via Margutta.
Located in Campo Marzio, called the “the foreigners’ district” by Fellini, it was once a street full of stables for the palaces in the vicinity. In the Middle Ages, an unknown craftsman opened the first workshop, it was gradually emerging a booming industry, attracting artists from around the world. In 1855, commissioned by the Marchese Francesco Patrizi, a palace was erected at number 54, which was equipped with studios for artists to live and work in them. Some of its illustrious guest were: Picasso, Stravinsky and Puccini.
In 1953, the seventh art made it tremendously popular, as the acclaimed film “Roman Holiday” was filmed on it. The character Gregory Peck (played by Joe Bradley) had his apartment here. The street became an exclusive area where celebrities like Truman Capote, Federico Fellini and his great love, actress Giulietta Masina live, ranked No. 110, which may be a humorous plaque with their names.
That same year, the exhibition “Cento Pintori via Margutta” (one hundred Margutta street painters) was born, an initiative of some painters who wanted to bring life to a street that had always been natural refuge for artists. It’s an outdoor exhibition, open to everyone, which presents more than 1000 pieces of national and foreign authors carefully selected. It is distinguished by an outlet for new artists and is a great opportunity for art lovers. Since then, takes place once a year in late October.
Walking across the little buildings full of ivy, you can find the Fontana delle Arti (Fountain of the arts), a unique marble fountain designed by the architects Pietro Lombardi in 1927. It is a triangular base topped by a bucket of brushes with two masks in homage to the artists who frequented the area in the seventeenth century. The masks, one sad and one happy, make reference to the fluctuating mood of the artists.
Among the local businesses in this small paradise in the center of Rome, stand out a handmade leather shop, whose prices are high, but it is also the quality of its products, a furniture store with decorative articles of the 20′s, and a Gianni Bulgari- jewelry store with unique pieces. There is also an ancient marble craft business. Its plates can be purchased already made or ask to chisel out the text you want. The friendly owner normally offers a plate of pasta to customers.
If you want to extend your walk, you can get close to the renowned Spanish Steps. At your feet, you can enjoy the Fontana delle Barcaccia, a striking 1627 sculpture. Climbing the stairway, you will find the church of Trinita dei Monti, a Gothic jewel whose frescoes are worth visiting.
Image by Lalupa (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons.
Elena Alvarez
Booking now one of our apartments in Rome and discovering the delights of this fascinating area away from the chaos of the eternal city by yourself, it will not be a disappointment.
Translated by: Hans
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