Prati and Borgo: a guide to the Vatican neighbourhood

Prati and Borgo make up the neighbourhood around the Vatican, on the right bank of the Tiber. Borgo, the older part, lies between St Peter's Basilica and Castel Sant'Angelo; Prati, newer, is a grid of broad middle-class avenues built from the late 19th century, with a large covered market, good shops and restaurants used by Romans. This guide tells you what to see, where to eat, how to get there and who the neighbourhood suits as a base. The prices quoted were checked in October 2026.

Prati and Borgo at a glance: where, for whom, when

Borgo is Rome's rione XIV. It grew up around St Peter's Basilica, on the right bank of the Tiber. Prati, rione XXII, was laid out after 1870, when Rome became the capital of Italy: it has straight streets, middle-class buildings and few monuments, which makes it calmer and more residential than the centre.

The neighbourhood suits Vatican visitors who want to sleep within walking distance of the museum entrance, travellers looking for an "everyday" Rome, and those who prefer to eat away from the most touristy streets. It is less lively in the evening than Trastevere or Monti, but the market, the gelaterias and the trattorias of Prati are busy all day.

Borgo: between St Peter's and Castel Sant'Angelo

Via della Conciliazione and St Peter's Basilica

Via della Conciliazione, a broad avenue opened in the 1930s after the Lateran Pacts of 1929, links Castel Sant'Angelo to St Peter's Square. It gives the finest approach view of St Peter's Basilica and its dome. To understand the Vatican better, also read our page on the Vatican Museums, whose entrance lies in the north of the neighbourhood, on Viale Vaticano.

Castel Sant'Angelo, Hadrian's mausoleum turned papal fortress and then museum, stands at the other end of the avenue; the Ponte Sant'Angelo, adorned with angels carved in Bernini's workshop, links it to the left bank. A fortified corridor, the Passetto di Borgo, about 800 m long, connects the Vatican to the castle: popes fled along it in times of danger. It can only be visited on exceptional openings or on specialised guided tours.

Borgo Pio: the street of restaurants

Borgo Pio

Parallel to Via della Conciliazione, Via di Borgo Pio is a narrow pedestrian street lined with restaurants, shops selling religious items and small grocers. Its village feel a few steps from St Peter's attracts many visitors: some tables, especially close to the square, charge tourist-site prices. Read the posted menu and the cover charge, and prefer places used by locals.

Prati: the market, the avenues and the shops

Prati begins north of the Tiber, around Piazza Cavour and the large courthouse of the Court of Cassation, which Romans call "il Palazzaccio". Via Cola di Rienzo is the main shopping street, with fashion shops, bookshops and gelaterias. It leads to Piazza del Risorgimento, right by the Vatican walls.

The Trionfale market, about ten minutes' walk from the museums, is one of Rome's largest covered markets. You can lunch at a counter or buy fruit, vegetables, cheese and cured meats for a picnic before visiting the Vatican. At the other end of Prati, on the Tiber, Piazza del Popolo can be reached on foot by the Ponte Regina Margherita or along the Lungotevere, in about twenty minutes from Piazza Cavour.

Where to eat in Prati and Borgo

Trionfale market: a quick lunch and fresh produce, Monday to Saturday, in the morning and early afternoon.
The streets west of Via Cola di Rienzo: trattorias, pizzerias and pastry shops, with a local clientele. Book in the evening.
Pizza and snacks: pizza al taglio is bought at the counter, to eat there or take away; it costs less than at a restaurant. Our guide to what to eat in Rome lists the dishes to try.
Avoid the fixed-price tourist menus posted in several languages around St Peter's Square.

Summary table: the stops in the neighbourhood

Stop	What you see	Entry	On foot from St Peter's Square
Via della Conciliazione	Approach avenue to St Peter's	Free	On site
St Peter's Basilica	Michelangelo's dome, Pietà	Free (dome paid)	On site
Vatican Museums	Sistine Chapel, galleries	Paid, booking required	15 min
Castel Sant'Angelo	Hadrian's mausoleum, terrace	Paid	10 min
Borgo Pio	Pedestrian street, restaurants	Free	3 min
Trionfale market	Covered market	Free	20 min

Detailed prices on each page, checked in October 2026. Walking times are approximate.

Getting to Prati and Borgo and staying there

The metro stations Ottaviano - San Pietro, Lepanto and Cipro (line A) serve the neighbourhood; Ottaviano is the closest to the Vatican Museums. Allow about 10 minutes on foot from Ottaviano to St Peter's Square. Buses complete the service; see our guide to getting around Rome for tickets.

Prati is a good base: calmer than the centre, with hotels in every category and direct access to the Vatican. The price to pay is a 15 to 25 minute metro ride to reach the Colosseum or Termini station. Our guide to where to stay in Rome compares the neighbourhoods.

Going further

Combine the neighbourhood with the Vatican visit and our Rome in 3 days itinerary. For tickets to book in advance, read which tickets to book in Rome; for the papal audience, seeing the Pope in Rome.