Deep-dive

Housing in Pigneto

Two- or three-storey villini and small blocks from the early twentieth century, often self-built, with courtyards and terraces; intensive post-war buildings towards Acqua Bullicante and the Prenestina. Lifts rare, small floor plans, many recently renovated homes. No ZTL but Fascia Verde; difficult parking in the narrow streets.

Sections: Neighbourhoods · Rooms · Short & long rentals · Buying · Contracts · Deposits

Type of buildings

Historic Pigneto, between via del Pigneto and the Casilina, is made of two- or three-storey villini and small blocks built between the late nineteenth century and the 1930s, often by the inhabitants themselves, with small courtyards, external stairs and terraces: a building type almost unique in Rome this close to the centre. Towards via dell'Acqua Bullicante, via Prenestina and the Circonvallazione Casilina there are intensive 1950s and 1960s buildings of six or seven storeys, with lifts. In between, former workshops and warehouses converted into lofts and studios.

Things to check: in the villini the lack of a lift and porter, damp on ground floors, the quality of recent renovations (many done for sale), noise from the bars for those living on via del Pigneto and via Fanfulla da Lodi, and from trains in the strip along the railway.

The rental market

Prices have risen a lot compared with twenty years ago but remain below San Lorenzo and the centre. The supply is small and medium flats on long leases, rooms for students and young workers, and a growing number of short lets around the pedestrian strip. Families and those looking for large flats look at the post-war buildings towards Acqua Bullicante or at the adjacent districts (Torpignattara, Prenestino), still in Municipio V, served by metro C.

Pigneto is not part of any Roma Mobilità car ZTL; via del Pigneto is partly a pedestrian zone.
The whole district is inside the Fascia Verde ZTL (permanent limits on the most polluting vehicles, Monday–Saturday).
On-street parking is partly free and partly paid (blue lines); the villini streets are narrow, often one-way, and finding a space on weekend evenings is hard. Few buildings have a garage.
The Casilina and the Prenestina are busy and noisy at all hours; the inner streets are quiet by day.

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