The wonders of Rome, the Eternal City and a wealth of history and art, certainly cannot be ignored. So if you find yourself in the Italian capital, don’t miss the iconic sites of this city with over 2000 years of history: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the bridges and castles on the Tiber are all well worth a visit. But try to imagine a different Rome, a Rome that becomes a “setting”: for a film, an evening at the theater, or a fashion show. In this itinerary, we want to take you to the iconic sites of major fashion shows, where ancient architecture becomes a unique stage.
Villa Borghese
This July 2025, the Villa Borghese gardens became the stage for two fashion-related events: ‘Forma Fashion Show’ and ‘Ensemble Atelier’. The first saw five of Rome’s leading fashion academies compete with the works of hundreds of emerging designers; The second event hosted seven high-fashion brands with ties to the capital, showcasing the city’s characteristics through the art of dressing.
Villa Borghese is an immense 18th-century estate, once owned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and now owned by the City of Rome. Located in the Pinciano district between Via Aldovrandi, Piazzale Flaminio, and Piazzale Picasso, in addition to the 80-hectare park, it also houses buildings such as the Hunting Lodges, Temples, Museums, and the Globe Theatre (an almost identical copy of Shakespeare’s original in London). It also features a lake, a zoo, forests of holm oaks, pines, and plane trees, and some ancient ruins.
Piazza Mignanelli
Just a 13-minute walk from Villa Borghese, you can reach Mignanelli square, much loved by the Valentino fashion house, which has effectively purchased the most important building overlooking it.
Along the way, you can admire Piazza del Popolo with its twin churches and, passing Villa Medici, you’ll reach this space dominated by the austere Palace Gabrielli-Mignanelli (home of the Valentino fashion school) and the famous Column of the Immaculate Conception. This monument in particular boasts a statue of the Virgin Mary to which the Pope annually presents a crown of roses with the help of the firefighters’ ladders. The Palazzetto Gabrielli, on the corner of Via Gregoriana, is also a beautiful architecture.
From Piazza Mignanelli, it’s a short walk to the Spanish Steps. But we recommend extending your itinerary a little, venturing into the alleys of the most fascinating—and rich!— 19th-century Rome.
Via Condotti
Take Via Frattina, then turn first onto Via Bocca di Leone and continue, cutting across Via Borgognona to Via Condotti. You can’t ignore this little “appendage” hidden among the Roman rooftops, because this tiny street is actually a treasure trove of fashion.
Via Condotti is home to the shops and windows of the most important fashion, design, and style houses. If you want to shop here, make sure you have a solid bank account! From clothes to shoes, from hats to jewelry…everything here carries prestigious brands and consequently boasts sky-high prices. But Via Condotti is so beautiful that it’s worth just strolling along, admiring the dreams of the rich people from behind the bulletproof windows!
Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)
Via Condotti will take you directly in front of the spectacular Spanish Steps (Scalinata Trinità dei Monti), located on Piazza di Spagna. This square owes its name to the fact that it has housed the Spanish Embassy since the 17th century. Embellished with its noble 136-step staircase, inaugurated in 1725 and overlooked by the 16th-century church of Trinità dei Monti, the square has always been the setting for Roman fashion shows.
All the most important designers have used it for their promotional campaigns, but it is also used as a stage for the shows of newcomers. Artfully lit and tastefully decorated, adding beauty to the already splendid urban floral decorations, the steps become the perfect stage for the seductive walks of models dressed in dreamy clothes. While ascending or descending these steps, you too can feel like a star of world-class fashion for a while.
Trevi Fountain
From the Spanish Steps, a mere ten-minute walk takes you effortlessly to the Trevi Fountain. This magnificent work of marble and water, commissioned by Pope Clement 12 in 1730 and created by architects Salvi and Pannini, with its statues and waterfalls, is the most beautiful monumental fountain in the world. With its size – 26 meters high and nearly 50 meters wide – it is also the largest fountain in Rome.
A backdrop for dozens of films and events, it is the favorite setting for the Fendi fashion house, which has held several fashion shows here.
This is the famous fountain into which you must throw a wish coin, so the gods will allow you to return to Rome someday. Therefore, it is usually crowded with tourists. But if you happen to pass by during a fashion event… with the fountain animated by lights and colors… stop to admire it anyway. Even without throwing coins!
Cinecittà
The final stop on the Rome Fashion tour is located far from the city center, in Cinecittà. You’ll need to take public transportation…bus, subway, or our chauffeur-driven cars, ready to take you there…to geto to the “city of cinema,” the Italian Hollywood.
Cinecittà hosts various fashion events, including the famous Rome Fashion Week. Even when there aren’t any fashion shows, you can visit numerous studios, admire fascinating sets from major films, and learn all the wonderful secrets of the ever-growing Italian film industry.
How to get to Rome
Reaching Rome city center is easy, whether you’re landing at Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Ciampino (CIA). Public transportation includes trams, buses, subways, and taxis. Our customized solutions, including a private chauffeur, can make even this “technical” transfer as relaxing as a vacation.
