Rome neighborhoods: Piazza Bologna

Piazza Bologna is one of the most famous Roman squares, in a neighborhood, the Nomentano, north-east of the city center, near the Aurelian Walls. Strongly desired at the beginning of the 20th century and then developed mainly during the Fascist period, the area of Piazza Bologna experienced a strong population growth in the twenties and thirties of the last century, which continued in the following decades.
Today the area – which has its architectural symbol in the famous Palazzo delle Poste, one of the most interesting examples of rationalist architecture in Italy – is also one of the most important zones for the students of La Sapienza University, given the rapid connections and the brief distance from the Capitoline university. For this reason, Piazza Bologna is characterized by a strong incidence of young and very young people; in recent years all sorts of clubs have developed for a fun-filled nightlife, less bohemian than San Lorenzo. Piazza Bologna is the mouth of several important arterial roads, such as Viale delle Province, which allows immediate access to Tiburtina Station, and Viale XXI Aprile, the gate of Nomentano. Here there is also the Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, and there are many services and commercial activities. The green island in the center of the square is an ideal place to relax and is frequented by families with children and by the elderly. Particularly, the neighborhood is very livable during the weekend and away from rush hours, with a good amount of wine bars and high-level restaurants.
From the point of view of residential architecture, Piazza Bologna zone often shows austere rationalist buildings, with a severe architecture that however hides a search for spaces and volumes that translates into comfort and functionality in the interiors. The condominiums are also quite frequent, especially following the demolition of the most dilapidated buildings built during the Fascist period.
The area was created to be destined for the middle-upper class, with characteristic four-story villas of fine architectural finishes.
Near Piazza Bologna there is also the historic residence of Benito Mussolini, Villa Torlonia, today an important museum villa; the area is ideal for jogging and relaxing when you have some free time, a green lung much appreciated by residents.
This area is one of the happiest in Rome from a logistical point of view and as far as the number of real estate structures available is concerned, also seeing the large turnover. The proximity to the great University of La Sapienza, the most important in Italy and one of the main in Europe in terms of number of subscribers, makes it ideal for students who want to rent a room or a studio, plus the metro that leads directly in the center within minutes make this neighborhood attractive for professionals and families. The area is certainly busier than the immediate suburbs but boasts a considerable number of shops for any eventuality. In addition to houses with four or more floors, between Viale XXI Aprile and Via Nomentana, there are numerous buildings dating back to the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries, surrounded by greenery and often a representative office for consulates or diplomatic delegations, such as the German Academy: in this area you can also find luxury accommodation.
There are also attractions from an archaeological, cultural and historical point of view, such as the mausoleum of Santa Costanza with its splendid mosaics, Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura with its catacombs, and a short distance from the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura.
 

Connections
Piazza Bologna, even for the metro station of the same name, is in fact a major road junction. The metro B1 allows you to arrive in an instant in the area of Via di Conca d’Oro, and a short distance away you will also find the beautiful Coppedè zone, Parioli and the shopping area of Viale Libia. Other stations in the area are those of Policlinico, close to Sapienza, and Tiburtina. The area can be easily reached by bus with the bus n.90 from Termini Station, as well as from Piazza Venezia or Via Nazionale (with the bus n.60).