Piazza Colonna
Square Central Rome square featuring the Column of Marcus Aurelius
Piazza Colonna in Rome revolves around the Column of Marcus Aurelius and is flanked by Palazzo Chigi; visitors study the Roman reliefs, photograph the column and move on to nearby shopping streets and government buildings.
Piazza Colonna is a central square in Rome dominated by the Roman victory column erected in honour of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and by the late Renaissance and Baroque palaces that line the square. The column dates to the late 2nd century AD and is decorated with a spiralling relief depicting imperial military scenes.
Palazzo Chigi, a 17th-century palace on the piazza, is the formal seat of the Italian government’s executive office and faces the column. The square has long served as a civic focal point in the heart of Rome’s historic core.
The piazza stands on a long-used urban site in central Rome, between the Via del Corso and the areas around the Quirinal and the Pantheon, and is fully integrated into the city’s dense street grid.
- Column viewing tip: The Column of Marcus Aurelius has a spiral relief band depicting military campaigns and can be inspected from the surrounding square; photographs work best from the north side to capture the column against the palace background.
How to Get to Piazza Colonna #
Piazza Colonna sits in central Rome on Via del Corso beside the Column of Marcus Aurelius. The piazza is a short walk (about 5-10 minutes) from Metro Line A stations Barberini or Spagna; several city buses run along Via del Corso and the adjacent streets, from which it is a brief walk to the square.
Because it is in the historic centre, driving is subject to ZTL restrictions; walking from the nearest metro exit is usually the simplest option.
Tips for Visiting Piazza Colonna #
- View the Column of Marcus Aurelius from the stretch of Via del Corso for the clearest, unobstructed perspective, especially early in the day before pedestrian and traffic peaks.
- Plan a quick walk around the square to see the façades of Palazzo Chigi and the entrances to nearby government buildings; the political architecture gives context most passing visitors miss.
- If you want a quieter experience, visit mid-morning on a weekday when office crowds are dispersed; weekends and lunch hours tend to be busiest.
Best Time to Visit Piazza Colonna #
Visit Piazza Colonna in spring or winter mornings to avoid the peak summer crowds while enjoying Rome's central sights.
Weather & Climate near Piazza Colonna #
Piazza Colonna's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (696 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 15 mm and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 94 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
.jpg?width=600)
