Via del Corso
Historical Center
- Location: Via del Corso
- Address: Via del Corso
- Visit lasts: 1 hour (about)
- Services:
Connecting Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo and running about 1.6 km., it is the most important road in Rome, on which stand some of the most important buildings, churches and piazzas of the city. Until the second half of the 1400s, it was known by its ancient name of Via Lata, the urban tract of Via Flaminia. It owes its current name to the barb horse races, which used to take place in Testaccio during Carnival, however they were moved to this area in 1466 under Pope Paul II Barbo, so they would be closer to his palace (the future Palazzo di Venezia).
THINGS TO KNOW: The last Corsa dei Bàrberi was held in 1883, when a child crossing the street was trampled and killed by the racing horses. It was Queen Margherita, who had witnessed the event, that called for its abolition.
