The Via Viminale in Rome connects two of the most striking buildings in the neighborhood. On the north side this is the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme and on the south side the Palazzo del Viminale. Other points of interest are the Teatro dell’Opera and the Granaio Clementino.
Via Viminale Rome
Useful information
Addresses: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (Largo di Villa Peretti, 1), Granaio Clementino (n. 3) , Teatro dell’ Opera (Piazza Beniamino Gigli), Teatro Nazionale (n. 51), Piazza Viminale, Piazza Viminale Fountain.
History and curiosities
The Via Viminale is named after the hill of the same name, which in turn is named after the wicker (vimine, in Italian) that used to grow there.
Before the street received its current name, it was called Strada Strozzi. The Strozzi were an aristicratic family who owned a villa in the area.
The neighborhood was called ad decem tabernas “ten inns” during the imperial period, because of the presence of several drinking establishments.
The street is located partly in the Castro Pretorio district (the north side), and partly in the Monti district.
What to see
The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is one of the four seats of the Museo Nazionale Romano. Here you can see a number of notorious sculptures, including the “Resting Boxer”.
The building at n.3 looks much older than the rest of the street. The reason is that it actually is. It began its existence as one of the circular halls of Diocletian’s Baths. Pope Clement VI later used it as part of the grain store named after him. The main entrance to the building is around the corner, on Via Terme di Diocleziano, 33.
The Teatro dell’Opera was built in 1880. Originally it was called the Teatro Costanzi. The opera theater has room for 1600 spectators.
The Teatro Nazionale was originally a movie theater. In the 1990s the city bought the theater and it is now part of the Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.