Pincio Terrace: sunset over Piazza del Popolo

Updated on October 8, 2026

The Pincio Terrace, or Piazzale Napoleone I, is the easiest viewpoint to reach in Rome: a stone balcony above Piazza del Popolo, with the rooftops of the centre and, to the west, the dome of Saint Peter's. It is part of the Pincio gardens, which extend the Villa Borghese. Access is free and open day and night. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, and arrive 30 minutes before sunset to get a spot at the parapet.

Highlights

The view over Rome

From the parapet you take in Piazza del Popolo and its twin churches, the Tiber, the rooftops of the centre and the dome of Saint Peter's. At sunset the terrace is one of the busiest places in the city: it is better to come early.

Valadier's ramps

The Pincio was laid out by Giuseppe Valadier in the early 19th century. The ramps and stairs that climb from Piazza del Popolo, with their fountains, make a gentle walk of five to ten minutes.

The gardens, the busts and the water clock

The paths are lined with busts of famous Italians. Father Embriaco's hydraulic clock, shown at the 1867 Paris World's Fair and installed on the Pincio in 1873, tells the time by the level of the water. The Casina Valadier, built by the same architect, houses a restaurant and an events venue.

Opening hours and prices

The terrace and the Pincio gardens are free and open access. Only bike and pedal-car rental in the park, drinks at the Casina Valadier and the guided visit of the neighbouring Villa Medici are paid.

Practical info

Tips

For sunset, come on a weekday rather than at the weekend, and keep an eye on your belongings in the crowd. Avoid photographers offering a "free" portrait and rose sellers. To continue, walk down to Piazza del Popolo, cross the Villa Borghese or reach Piazza di Spagna along Viale della Trinità dei Monti, ten minutes on foot. This page gives no opening hours for the businesses in the park, which vary. Also read: Villa Medici.

How to get there

Piazzale Napoleone I, Pincio, 00187 Rome. Metro line A, Flaminio station (then Valadier's ramps, 10 minutes) or Spagna station (then Viale della Trinità dei Monti, 10 minutes).