When visiting the Trevi fountain in Rome, you might also want to check out some other things to see nearby. The Trevi fountain is located in the heart of Rome in a very walkable area. Therefore it won’t take long to find other amazing sights nearby.
These are our favorite attractions short walking distance from the Trevi fountain.
1) Galleria Colonna
Statues, painting, mirrors with golden frames, chandeliers, consoles.. frescoes on the ceiling, colorful marbles on the floors.
Galleria Colonna it’s a stunning attraction near the Trevi fountain, and it is part of the Colonna Palace. The Colonna’s are a noble family of Rome – Pope Martino V belonged to this family – and this is one of the biggest and most ancient private palaces in Rome.
Check their opening times before you visit.
Website: https://www.galleriacolonna.it/
📍Via della Pilotta, 17
2) Villa Medici
Villa Medici is located right above the Spanish Steps, so about 10 minutes walk from the Trevi fountain. It houses of the French Academy, which every year hosts artists from all over the world. This villa was built in the 1500s by the Cardinal Ferdinando de’ Medici, hence the name. The villa itself is beautiful, and the view from the gardens over the city is breathtaking.
Villa Medici hosts many events during the year, especially in the Summer, such as an outdoor cinema, exhibitions and more. Check out our Rome Event page to see if there are any events while you’re in Rome.
If you want to learn more about Villa Medici, check this out: Villa Medici in Rome. A hidden gem near the Trevi fountain
3) Galleria Sciarra
Something you want to see while nearby the Trevi fountain is Galleria Sciarra. This is an internal courtyard of Palazzo Sciarra, a noble family palace from the 1500s. This is one of the most photogenic corners of Rome in liberty style, which was a popular style at the end of the 1800s. It has a sort of a British look.
This Gallery was a celebration of the typical role model of a woman at the end of the 1800s. On these walls you can see the virtues that a typical role model of a woman in the 1800s should have had: “Pudica”, she should have been pudic; “Sobria”, sober. She should have been good at gardening, taking care of the house and also being a loving daughter, and more.
📍Via Marco Minghetti, 10
4) The house of Monsters
The look of the door and its nickname are quite deceiving. In fact this place has nothing scary in it. The real name of this building is Palazzo Zuccari, named after Federico Zuccari, an Italian painter from the 1500s.
Federico wanted to create a surprise effect with this door. Visitors would enter this “scary” door, and then be surprised with the contrast of the beauty of the garden inside. In fact originally you would find a garden after this door.
Today the garden is replaced by the Bibliotheca Hertziana, a German research institute specialised in History of Art with focus on Rome. The story of Palazzo Zuccari and the Bibliotheca Hertziana are both very fascinating. They started with two great personalities: Federico Zuccari for the palace, and Henrietta Hertz for the library.
Learn more about them and how to visit here: The House of Monsters and the Bibliotheca Hertziana
📍Via Gregoriana, 28
5) Trevi Fountain Underground Aqueduct
One of the things you must see near the Trevi fountain is its underground ancient aqueduct. Right behind the corner there is an underground archaeological site where you will find the water reservoir of the Aqua Virgo. This is the only ancient Roman aqueduct still functioning today. After 2000 years!
It is a site with limited space and they only allow a limited number of people in. That is why is important that you reserve your entrance in advance. It is also a little complicated to decipher if you are on your own. if you are on your own you can read about the basic notions of the archaeological site, however to truly appreciate the stories behind this place, a guided tour of the aqueduct is highly recommended.
Our Underground the Trevi fountain tour is a journey through water. We start by the fountain of the Spanish Steps and from there we follow the track of the underground aqueduct below our feet. We won’t see the aqueduct at first, because it is underground. But then we’ll start spotting parts of it along the way, mixed with the modern buildings. Surprise after surprise, we’ll end up underground to see the water reservoir of the Trevi fountain aqueduct.
6) The perspective illusions of the church of St Ignatius
You literally won’t believe your eyes!
This is the church of Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola, a Jesuit church inaugurated in 1626, only a few steps away from the Trevi fountain.
When you enter and look up to the ceiling, you feel disoriented.. is that ceiling open? Which cornice is real and which one is painted? Is the dome a real dome?
Andrea Pozzo, who painted the ceiling, would be so proud of your confusion. He put together very sophisticated mathematical calculations in order to fool the human eye. And he’s been fooling visitors’ eyes since 400 years..
Learn about this church and all its optical illusions during our Historic Center tour: behind the scenes with Underground Piazza Navona
📍Via del Caravita, 8a
7) The church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
This is one of the smallest churches of Rome. The whole church is as big as one of the pilasters of St Peter’s basilica! It is so small and cozy, everything is white and soft, it feels like walking into a cloud, it feels comforting. This is a church out of the ordinary to be in Rome and most of all, to be made in the 1600s. In fact San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane was designed by Francesco Borromini, whose style was pretty simple and “modern” for his times. That is why he wasn’t totally appreciated during his time, but he is way more appreciated today. His style was closer to our taste of today, than of the 1600s. An artist way beyond his times.
📍Via del Quirinale, 23
Discover more
Discover the side of Rome that most tourists don’t get to see with our small groups walking tours.
Check our our Rome 3-day itinerary to help you plan wisely your Rome trip.
Learn more about the Trevi fountain underground.
