Vicolo della Campanella, Via dei Coronari, Piazza dell'Orologio,
near Piazza Navona

Let's have a stroll from the Roman Roofs penthouse, roaming around its most intriguing neighborhood.

	The Vicolo della Campanella (Little Bell alley) is a quiet side street near Piazza Navona, nested between Via dei Coronari and the square Piazza San Salvatore al Lauro. Its buildings date back to the 17-19th century, and were built in turn on the ruins of ancient Roman palaces. Car circulation is restricted in the little alley, only the permanent residents can park. Left: the marble slab introducing Vicolo della Campanella ("Little Bell Alley"). Right: Vicolo della Campanella In the street you find both well renovated palaces, where tenants usually belong to the educated middle-class, and also simpler, palaces. As it occurs with all Romans, people are happy about their social status.

The characteristic little street has its name (Vicolo della Campanella or "Little bell alley") as it leads to a little church nearby, whose little belfrey used to mark the hours long ago (currently it is being kept silent). The charming old Rome street has a peculiar V shape. Despite it is small and narrow (which is an advantage as car circulation is virtually impossible), it has two Marian works of art on her walls.

The wall work of art dedicate to Mary at the beginning of the street. It shows St. Filippo Neri (St. Philip Neri) worshipping Mary	Just to the side of the front door of the apartment there is another beautiful work of art dedicated to St. Philip Neri and to our lady. It displayes Mary, Jesus, St. Thomas, St. Philip Neri and the so called "Miracle of the three children". .

The first one (left photo, above) is situated where the two branches of the V-shaped alley meet. It portrays St. Filippo Neri worshipping Our Lady and Jesus. The second is situated immediately to the right of the front door of the palace of the Roman Roofs apartment.

The characteristic front door of the Roman Roofs palace	The spontaneity of the inhabitants, hanging their clothes outside

In the left photo below you see the front door of the palace where the Roman Roofs penthouse is situated. Both the columns and the vault are made in granite stone.

Piazza dell'Orologio: the Oratory and Convent of St. Philip Neri (Oratorio dei Filippini Friars) designed by Francesco Borromini between 1637 - 1640.	Close-up on the marvellous Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) designed by Francesco Borromini. The "Roman Holiday" film fans probably recognized that this is the clock which could be seen from Joe Bradley's window.

Between Via dei Coronari and Corso Vittorio Emanuele you find the famous Oratory of the Filippini brothers, which was designed by Francesco Borromini. As opposed to his rival architect/sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Borromini believed that the meaning of architecture was to deisgn and assemble the content of structures, wihle Bernini believed that the ultimate goal of architecture was to conceive the notion of space over the content (for ex., St. Peter's colonnade, which is his work).
Borromini also preferred curved profiles, in all forms, and in which he excelled. The elegance and the creativity of his works are outstanding.

Further close-up of the Torre dell'Orologio	Via dei Coronari

Within the oratory layout, the famous Torre dell'Orologio or Clock Tower stands out with its intriguing elegance.
Near Vicolo della Campanella you find the famous Via dei Coronari, or "Crown makers street", as during the 16-19th century this was the street where you could find the craftsmen preparing crowns of flowers. Today it is rather the iconic street of antique art dealers.

An antique dealer shop and workroom	A characteristic house in Via dei Coronari, with a long flight of steps accessing it

Along Via dei Coronari you also find wall altars, such as the one of the photo above, dedicated to St. Filippo Neri. You also find picturesque houses, with characteristic stairs (photo above).

The Church of San Salvatore in Lauro	Kids leaving school with theirs teachers

The other important church of the quarter is the Chiesa di San Selvatore al Lauro, a 17th century church. Near to it, you find a grammar / junior school. The flocks of kids, giggling and chatting, bring joy to the quarter, making it more lively.

A sun dial in Piazza San Salvatore in Lauro	One of the many fine restaurants in the area: "Capricci Siciliani", or Sicilian Whims, with typical Sicialian specialities (cannoli, finest wines, Pasta alla Norma etc.)

In the area you also find wall sundials, small fountains, and naturally many restaurants and cafes, suiting all tastes and wallets.

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