Via del Corso

Thoroughfare in Rome, Italy

Via del Corso

Via del Corso

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Location| Rome, Italy
Coordinates| 41°54′21.7″N 12°28′41.78″E﻿ / ﻿41.906028°N 12.4782722°E﻿ / 41.906028; 12.4782722Coordinates: 41°54′21.7″N 12°28′41.78″E﻿ / ﻿41.906028°N 12.4782722°E﻿ / 41.906028; 12.4782722

The Via del Corso is a main street in the historical centre of Rome. It is straight in an area otherwise characterized by narrow meandering alleys and small piazzas. Considered a wide street in ancient times, the Corso is approximately 10 metres wide, and it only has room for two lanes of traffic and two narrow sidewalks. The northern portion of the street is a pedestrian area. The length of the street is roughly 1.5 kilometres.

## Description[edit]

San Marcello al Corso

Palazzo Doria Pamphili

Palazzo Chigi

San Carlo al Corso

Via del Corso from Piazza del Popolo

The Corso runs in a generally north–south direction. To the north, it links the northern entrance gate to the city, the Porta del Popolo and its piazza, the Piazza del Popolo, to the heart of the city at the Piazza Venezia, at the base of the Capitoline Hill. At the Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso is framed by two Baroque churches, Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, and along the street are the church of San Carlo al Corso, the church of San Giacomo in Augusta, the church of Gesù e Maria, the Piazza Colonna with the ancient column of Marcus Aurelius, the Galleria Alberto Sordi, the church of Santa Maria in Via Lata, the Oratory of Santissimo Crocifisso, the church of San Marcello al Corso and the Palazzo Doria Pamphili.

From the fifteenth century, the road served as the racetrack during the Roman Carnival for an annual running of riderless horses called the "corsa dei barberi", which is the source for the name Via del Corso. Following the assassination of King Umberto I in 1900, the road was renamed Corso Umberto I. In 1944, it became Corso del Popolo and two years later reverted to Corso.

Today, the Corso is a popular place for the passeggiata, the evening stroll for the populace to be seen and to see others. It is also an important shopping street for tourists and locals alike.

## History[edit]

The history of Via del Corso began in 220 BC when Gaius Flaminius censor built a new road to link Rome with the Adriatic Sea in the north. The starting point of the road was Porta Fontinalis, a gate in the Servian city walls near present-day Piazza Venezia. In its first miles Via Flaminia cut through the plain between the Tiber and the eastern hills in a straight line. The Field of Mars, as it was called, was at the time used as a training ground and pasture. Numerous tombs must have lined the road similarly to the Appian Way.

The open area outside the city walls went through a process of urbanization during the late Republican and early imperial age. The city gradually spread towards north and monumental public buildings were built along the road. A set of dynastic monuments around the Mausoleum of Augustus was the most important development in the formerly unpopulated northern section of the district.

The ancient name of Via Lata (which means Broad Way) denotes that the street was considered wide, especially in comparison to neighbouring lanes but at three places along its length, it became narrower due to triumphal arches. The first was the Arcus Novus erected by Diocletian in 303–304, then the Arch of Claudius (AD 51–52) stood further ahead (the Aqua Virgo aqueduct crossed the road on top of it) and the third was later known as the Arco di Portogallo.

The most important ancient monuments along Via Lata were Aurelian's Temple of the Sun, the Ara Pacis, the Ustrinum Domus Augustae, the Ara Providentiae and the Column of Marcus Aurelius. A densely populated residential quarter from the Hadrianic era was discovered on the right side of the road between Via delle Muratte and Via delle Convertite. With the building of the Aurelian Walls (AD 271–75) the whole area was incorporated into the city of Rome, and a new city gate (Porta Flaminia) was erected at present-day Piazza del Popolo where the road left the urban territory.

From around the year 600 AD, the Corso accommodated a welfare centre linked to feeding the populace at Santa Maria in Via Lata and granaries at its southern end.[1] During the Middle Ages the Via Lata, the present day Corso, effectively denoted a boundary, to the city which mainly developed to the south and east of it.[2] Also for this reason here was built in 1339 the hospital San Giacomo degli Incurabili, later rebuilt in the today form.

From the fifteenth century, the Via del Corso became a fashionable street for new or renovated churches and new palaces for the nobility.[3] However, by the mid seventeenth century, the street remained a mixture of different scales and architectural styles, some unfashionable, a number of churches lacked facades and some buildings were a combination of structures from different periods or were simply incomplete.

The lack of regularity and decorum of this principal street of the city meant that it became a main urban priority of Pope Alexander VII. In pursuing the nobility to complete their properties, he met with limited success; some just did not have the funds, some were content to avoid the issue by continuing to reside on their country estates [4] In the case of unfinished churches, he encouraged ecclesiastical colleagues to act as sponsors. Where he met with greater success was over imposing order on the street by empowering the maestri di strade, the municipal body in charge of streets, to clear, align and regularize the street .[5] This meant the properties could be acquired and demolished if necessary, projections from buildings could be removed and others added to so as to maintain a consistent line of street frontage. He even had the ancient triumphal arch, the Arco di Portogallo, demolished because the central gateway of this arch effectively reduced the street width to almost half.

Alexander took a particular interest in regularizing the Piazza Colonna, about halfway along the Corso. In 1659, his family, the Chigi, bought the incomplete Palazzo Aldobrandini, bordering the piazza and the Corso, and rebuilt as Palazzo Chigi. Around the same time, the leading painter of the time, Pietro da Cortona, developed a design for a ‘fountain palace’ in the piazza, a palace with a large fountain at the base of the façade, but this precursor of the Trevi Fountain was not built.

The Corso was also tied to Alexander's intentions to impress significant dignitaries paying official visits to the city. The Porta del Popolo was reworked and the Piazza del Popolo cleared. The two Baroque churches facing onto the Piazza marked perpectivised vistas along the Via del Babuino to the left, the Via di Ripetta to the right and at the centre, the straightened and regularized Via del Corso leading to the Piazza Venezia. This complex of streets is known as Tridente.

## See also[edit]

* The Corso, Manly

## References[edit]

1. ^ Krautheimer, R. Rome. Profile of a City 312-1308, Princeton University Press, 1980, 77
2. ^ Krautheimer, 1980, 244, 252, 278
3. ^ Krautheimer, R. The Rome of Alexander VII 1655-1667, Princeton University Press, 1985, 21
4. ^ Krautheimer, 1985, 24
5. ^ The maestri di strade were established in 1233 and survived until the eighteenth century; Krautheimer, 1980, 284

## External links[edit]

* Lucentini, M. (31 December 2012). The Rome Guide: Step by Step through History's Greatest City. ISBN 9781623710088.

Media related to Via del Corso (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Via dei Coronari | Landmarks of Rome
Via del Corso  | Succeeded by
Via della Conciliazione

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Landmarks of Rome

Walls and gates|

* Aurelian Walls
* Ardeatina
* Asinaria
* Latina
* Maggiore
* Metronia
* Nomentana
* Pia
* Pinciana
* Popolo
* Portese
* San Pancrazio
* San Paolo
* San Giovanni
* San Sebastiano
* Settimiana
* Tiburtina
* Leonine Wall
* Cavalleggeri
* Pertusa
* Santo Spirito
* Castra Praetoria
* Janiculum Wall
* Terreus Wall
* Romuli Wall
* Servian Wall
* Caelimontana
* Dolabella
* Gallienus
* Esquilina

Ancient obelisks|

* Lateran Obelisk
* Flaminian Obelisk
* Obelisk of Minerveo
* Obelisk of Montecitorio

Ancient Roman
landmarks|

| Triumphal arches|

* Arch of Constantine
* Arch of Dolabella
* Arch of Drusus
* Arch of Gallienus
* Arch of Janus
* Arch of Septimius Severus
* Arch of Titus
* Arcus Novus

|

Aqueducts|

* Aqua Alexandrina
* Aqua Anio Vetus
* Aqua Claudia
* Cloaca Maxima

Public baths|

* Baths of Agrippa
* Baths of Caracalla
* Baths of Diocletian
* Baths of Nero
* Baths of Trajan

Religious|

* Ara Pacis
* Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
* Temple of Apollo Palatinus
* Temple of Apollo Sosianus
* Temple of Hadrian
* Temple of Hercules Victor
* Temple of Janus
* Temple of Minerva Medica
* Temple of Portunus
* Temple of Saturn
* Temple of Vesta
* House of the Vestals
* Largo di Torre Argentina
* Lupercal
* Pantheon
* Porta Maggiore Basilica

Fora|

* Roman Forum
* Imperial fora
* Forum of Augustus
* Forum of Caesar
* Forum of Nerva
* Forum of Vespasian
* Trajan's Forum
* Forum Boarium
* Forum Holitorium

Civic|

* Basilica Argentaria
* Basilica Julia
* Basilica of Junius Bassus
* Basilica of Maxentius
* Basilica of Neptune
* Basilica Ulpia
* Comitium
* Curia Julia
* Portico Dii Consentes
* Porticus Octaviae
* Tabularium

Entertainment|

* Circus Maximus
* Circus of Maxentius
* Circus of Nero
* Colosseum
* Ludus Magnus
* Gardens of Maecenas
* Gardens of Sallust
* Stadium of Domitian
* Theatre of Marcellus
* Theatre of Pompey

Palaces and villae|

* Domus Augustana
* Domus Aurea
* Domus Transitoria
* Flavian Palace
* House of Augustus
* Palace of Domitian
* Villa Gordiani
* Villa of Livia
* Insula dell'Ara Coeli
* Villa of the Quintilii
* Villa of the sette bassi

Column monuments|

* Column of Antoninus Pius
* Column of Marcus Aurelius
* "Column of Phocas"
* Trajan's Column
* Five-Columns Monument

Commerce|

* Porticus Aemilia
* Trajan's Market

Tombs|

* Casal Rotondo
* Catacombs of Domitilla
* Catacombs of Rome
* Catacombs of San Sebastiano
* Columbarium of Pomponius Hylas
* Mausoleum of Augustus
* Mausoleum of Helena
* Mausoleum of Maxentius
* Pyramid of Cestius
* Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker
* Tomb of Hilarus Fuscus
* Tomb of the Haterii
* Tomb of the Scipios
* Tombs of Via Latina
* Tomb of Priscilla
* Vigna Randanini

Bridges|

* Pons Cestius
* Pons Fabricius
* Ponte Milvio
* Ponte Sant'Angelo

Roman Catholic
Basilicas|

* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Basilica of Saint Mary Major
* Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
* S. Lorenzo fuori le mura
* S. Agnese fuori le mura
* S. Agostino
* S. Anastasia al Palatino
* S. Andrea delle Fratte
* S. Andrea della Valle
* S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana
* S. Apollinare alle Terme
* Ss. Apostoli
* S. Balbina
* S. Bartolomeo all'Isola
* Ss. Bonifacio ed Alessio
* S. Camillo de Lellis
* S. Carlo al Corso
* S. Cecilia in Trastevere
* Ss. Celso e Giuliano
* S. Clemente
* Ss. Cosma e Damiano
* S. Crisogono
* S. Croce in Via Flaminia
* S. Croce in Gerusalemme
* S. Eugenio
* S. Eustachio
* S. Francesca Romana
* S. Giovanni a Porta Latina
* S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini
* Ss. Giovanni e Paolo
* S. Lorenzo in Damaso
* S. Lorenzo in Lucina
* S. Maria Ausiliatrice
* S. Marco
* S. Maria degli Angeli
* S. Maria in Montesanto
* S. Maria in Cosmedin
* S. Maria in Domnica
* S. Maria in Aracoeli
* S. Maria del Popolo
* S. Maria sopra Minerva
* S. Maria in Trastevere
* S. Maria in Via
* S. Maria in Via Lata
* S. Maria della Vittoria
* S. Martino ai Monti
* Ss. Nereo e Achilleo
* S. Nicola in Carcere
* S. Pancrazio
* Pantheon
* S. Pietro in Vincoli
* S. Prassede
* S. Pudenziana
* Ss. Quattro Coronati
* S. Saba
* S. Sabina
* Sacro Cuore di Maria
* Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re
* Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio
* S. Sebastiano fuori le mura
* S. Silvestro in Capite
* S. Sisto Vecchio
* S. Sofia a Via Boccea
* S. Stefano Rotondo
* S. Teresa
* S. Vitale

Other churches|

* List of churches in Rome

Castles and palaces|

* Arx
* Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi
* Castel Sant'Angelo
* Domus Internationalis Paulus VI
* Palazzo Aragona Gonzaga
* Palazzo Barberini
* Palazzo Borghese
* Palazzo della Cancelleria
* Palazzo Chigi
* Palazzo Colonna
* Palazzo della Consulta
* Palazzo Farnese
* Palazzo Fusconi-Pighini
* Palazzo Giustinani
* Lateran Palace
* Palazzo Madama
* Palazzo Malta
* Palazzo di Giustizia
* Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne
* Palazzo Mattei
* Palazzo del Quirinale
* Palazzo Pamphilj
* Palazzo Poli
* Palazzo Riario
* Palazzo Ruspoli
* Palazzo Spada
* Palazzo Valentini
* Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli
* Palazzo del Viminale
* Palazzo Wedekind
* Palazzo Zuccari
* Villa Farnesina
* Villa Giulia
* Villa Madama

Fountains|

* Api
* Acqua Felice
* Acqua Paola
* Babuino
* Barcaccia
* Il Facchino
* Marforio
* Moro
* Nasone
* Navicella
* Neptune
* Nettuno
* del Pantheon
* Pianto
* di Piazza d'Aracoeli
* di Piazza Colonna
* di Piazza Farnese
* della Piazza dei Quiriti
* di Piazza Nicosia
* in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
* di Ponte Sisto
* Quattro Fiumi
* Quattro Fontane
* Tartarughe
* Trevi Fountain
* Tritons
* Tritone

Other landmarks|

* Altare della Patria (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of Italy)
* Campo Verano
* Capocci Tower
* Column of the Immaculate Conception
* Conti Tower
* Hospital of the Holy Spirit
* Milizie Tower
* Sisto Bridge
* Spanish Steps

Squares, streets
and public spaces|

* Appian Way
* Campo de' Fiori
* Clivus Capitolinus
* Piazza Colonna
* Piazza d'Aracoeli
* Piazza del Popolo
* Piazza della Minerva
* Piazza della Repubblica
* Piazza Farnese
* Piazza Navona
* Piazza di Spagna
* Piazza Venezia
* Via dei Coronari
* Via del Corso
* Via della Conciliazione
* Via dei Fori Imperiali
* Via Sacra
* Via Veneto

Parks, gardens
and zoos|

* Bioparco
* Villa Ada
* Villa Borghese gardens
* Villa Doria Pamphili
* Villa Medici
* Villa Torlonia
* Parco degli Acquedotti

Museums and
art galleries|

* Boncompagni Ludovisi Decorative Art Museum
* Capitoline Museums
* Casa di Goethe
* Doria Pamphilj Gallery
* Galleria Borghese
* Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna
* Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
* Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
* Giorgio de Chirico House Museum
* Galleria Spada
* Jewish Museum of Rome
* Keats–Shelley Memorial House
* MAXXI
* Museo Archeologico Ostiense
* Museo Barracco di Scultura Antica
* Museo Civico di Zoologia
* Museo delle anime del Purgatorio
* Museo delle Mura
* Museo di Roma
* Museo di Roma in Trastevere
* Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia
* Museo Nazionale Etrusco
* Museo Nazionale Romano
* Museo Storico Nazionale dell'Arte Sanitaria
* Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome
* Museum of Roman Civilization
* Museum of the Ara Pacis
* Museum of the Liberation of Rome
* National Museum of Oriental Art
* Palazzo Colonna
* Palazzo delle Esposizioni
* Pigorini National Museum
* Porta San Paolo Railway Museum
* Santa Cecilia Musical Instruments Museum
* Venanzo Crocetti Museum

Art|

* Apollo Belvedere
* Augustus of Prima Porta
* Colossus of Constantine
* La Bocca della Verità
* Laocoön and His Sons
* Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus
* Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
* Portonaccio sarcophagus
* Raphael Rooms
* Sistine Chapel ceiling
* Velletri Sarcophagus

Landscape|

| Seven Hills|

* Aventine
* Caelian
* Capitoline
* Esquiline
* Palatine
* Quirinal
* Viminal

|

* Tiber Island
* Monte Testaccio

Metropolitan City
of Rome Capital|

* Appian Way Regional Park
* Capo di Bove
* Castello Orsini-Odescalchi
* Frascati
* Hadrian's Villa
* Ostia Antica
* Villa Aldobrandini
* Villa d'Este
* Villa Farnese

Events and traditions|

* Festa della Repubblica
* Rome Quadriennale
* Rome Film Festival

Related|

* Vatican City
* St. Peter's Basilica
* St. Peter's Square
* Sistine Chapel
* ceiling

Authority control

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* Israel
* United States

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