EUR in Rome: the Square Colosseum and the Rationalist District, What to See

Updated on October 5, 2026

EUR (pronounced "eh-oor", for Esposizione Universale di Roma) is a district in the south of Rome, about 8 km from the centre, planned from 1937 for the 1942 World's Fair, which never took place because of the war. Its wide avenues, white marble and travertine buildings and monumental squares make it Italy's finest ensemble of Rationalist architecture. Its emblem is the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, the "Square Colosseum". Allow two to three hours for a walking tour; the exteriors of the monuments are free to see, and the district is about twenty minutes from Termini by metro.

Highlights

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana

Nicknamed the "Square Colosseum", this 68-metre-high cube was designed in 1937-1938 by Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula and Mario Romano and completed after the war. Its facades are pierced by six rows of nine arches, and an inscription at the top praises "a people of poets, artists, heroes, saints, thinkers, scientists, navigators, transmigrators". The palace houses the headquarters of the fashion house Fendi: the interior is not open to visitors, but the exterior can be admired freely, preferably from the front, from the square.

The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Perched on a height in the district, this large domed church, built between 1938 and 1955, can be seen from afar. Its very plain white facade contrasts with the Baroque churches of the centre. It is open to visitors outside services: check the parish's hours on site.

The EUR lake

The Parco Centrale del Lago surrounds an artificial lake, where you can stroll in the shade of the pines while looking at the office towers. It is an ideal spot for a break after visiting the monuments. The "Fungo", a mushroom-shaped water tower built in the late 1950s, can be seen from here.

The museums of Piazza Marconi

Around the square, the Palace of Sciences and the Palace of Folk Arts and Traditions house the Museum of Civilisations, the most interesting museum in the district: see our page on the Museum of Civilisations in EUR.

The Congress Palace and the Nuvola

The Palazzo dei Congressi (completed in 1954), a Rationalist building of the district, is complemented by the "Nuvola" by Massimiliano Fuksas, a large cloud of glass and steel opened in 2016, which hosts trade fairs and conferences.

A film set

EUR has served as a backdrop for many films, from Fellini to Bertolucci: see our guide Rome at the movies: filming locations, and also visit the Cinecittà studios.

Practical info

Tips

The district is spread out and rather quiet: come during the day, with good shoes, and bring water in summer, as shade is scarce on the big avenues. For a photo of the Square Colosseum, late-afternoon light is the most beautiful. On Sundays the streets are almost empty, which gives the district the air of a film set. EUR combines well with the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls and the Ostiense district: see our guide to Ostiense and Garbatella.

How to get there

EUR district, 00144 Rome. Metro line B, stations EUR Magliana, EUR Palasport, EUR Fermi (closest to Piazza Marconi and the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana) and Laurentina; about 20 minutes from Termini. The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is about 1 km from EUR Fermi station. Buses 30, 170 and 671 serve Piazza Marconi.