Via del Babuino and Via Margutta
Minutes from the crowded Corso,
Via del Babuino and Via Margutta offer a different, quieter Rome.
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| Via Margutta |
Laid out in 1525 and originally called
Via Clementina, Via del Babuino takes it’s the name from a statue of Silenus,
Dionysius’s tutor, that was so ugly Romans nicknamed it Babuino, or “baboon”;
by 1581 the street wore the name as well.
The statue can be seen in front of the
church of St. Anastasio (1) halfway down on the right. Just north of it, at no. 153, is the Anglican church of All
Saints (2), built in 1882, seemingly airlifted straight from London’s Mayfair.
Just above All Saints, at no. 19, is
the Italian Touring Club (3), a sprawling paradise of a store for serius
travelers.
Turing south again, continue to Via dei
Greci and Lion Bookshop (4), no. 33-36, whose caffè, children’s nook, and
axellent selection of books in English make it a welcome stop.
Retrace your steps to Via del Babuino,
turn right to reach Via d’Alibert, and left ubtil you hit Via Margutta.
Turn left onto this charming street
that owes its fame to the artists who can no longer afford to live here. If it
looks familiar, it might be because Gregory Peck lived here in Roman Holiday, in one of the tiny aparments
tucked at the top the sylvan courtyard of no. 51 (5). Continue up Margutta,
taking time to explore the street’s many stylish shops, including Lelli (6) at
no. 5, which sells (and ships) exquisite Italian fabrics.
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