Coppede 77

The Quartiere Coppedè is an architecturally unique complex of buildings in Rome's Trieste district, designed by the architect Gino Coppedè. Although it is not, strictly speaking, a traditional neighborhood, the name Coppedè has come to describe this collection of eighteen palaces and twenty-seven smaller residential buildings grouped around Piazza Mincio. Planning began in 1915, when the financiers Cerruti and Becchi commissioned Coppedè to design a residential area adjoining Piazza Buenos Aires. Despite early disputes with the building commission, which called for a more distinctly Roman character in 1917, Coppedè developed a style that combined ancient motifs with modern elements. Construction continued until Coppedè's death in 1927, after which the architect Paolo Emilio André took over its completion.

Here you'll encounter a fascinating mix of materials, including travertine, marble, and glazed majolica. The heart of the complex is Piazza Mincio, with the Fontana delle Rane, built in 1924, at its center. The fountain features pairs of figures holding shells on which frogs sit, spouting water into the basin. The main entrance on Via Tagliamento is dominated by a large, asymmetrically decorated arch reminiscent of the triumphal arches of ancient Rome, accompanied by a wrought-iron chandelier. The facades of the so-called Villini delle Fate are extremely richly detailed, evoking silk and gold embroidery. They are adorned with portraits of poets such as Dante and Petrarch, coats of arms, bee reliefs, and inscriptions honoring various Italian cities such as Florence and Venice.

The significance of the quarter extends beyond architecture into popular culture. Numerous embassies, including those of South Africa, Morocco, and Estonia, are based here. The area has also served as a backdrop for films such as The Omen and the works of Dario Argento. Inside the buildings you'll find refined details such as Pompeian mosaics in the bathrooms, parquet floors, and coffered ceilings, which reflect the high standards of living of the time. The Quartiere Coppedè thus remains a living testament to early modern architecture in Rome, uniting history, art, and everyday life in a very special way.