Daily life in Prati

Shopping and markets

Prati is one of the few central rioni where you can do the weekly shop without leaving the district. The Prati neighbourhood market in piazza dell'Unità, on via Cola di Rienzo, is covered, built in 1928, with fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, cured meats, cheese and deli counters. On the northern edge, on via Andrea Doria, the Mercato Trionfale is among the largest in the city, with over two hundred and fifty food and non-food stalls (Turismo Roma figure). Supermarkets are medium-format on via Cola di Rienzo, via Candia and viale Giulio Cesare; via Cola di Rienzo is also the street for clothes shopping and historic delicatessens.

Services, health, schools

Pharmacies are dense, many with extended hours around piazza Risorgimento. The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Santo Spirito in Sassia, on the embankment in Borgo, just south of the rione. There are state and private schools of every level and historic licei, which is why Prati is chosen by families with school-age children. The courts (Court of Cassation in piazza Cavour, civil court on viale Giulio Cesare, criminal court at piazzale Clodio just over the boundary) bring a daily flow of users and professional offices.

There is no public library inside the rione: the nearest Biblioteche di Roma branches are in the historic centre and at Flaminio.

Green space and leisure

Green space is scarce: the Parco Adriano around Castel Sant'Angelo, the gardens of piazza Cavour and piazza Mazzini (over the boundary), and the lungotevere, where people run and cycle. For a real park you cross the bridge to Villa Borghese or the Pincio.

In the evening the rione is low-key: traditional and fish restaurants, pizzerie, historic ice-cream parlours, wine bars and cocktail bars on via Cola di Rienzo, via dei Gracchi, via Crescenzio and around piazza Cavour, with a clientele of residents and people who work in the area. Cinemas and the Teatro Adriano (now a multiplex) in piazza Cavour complete the offer. It is not an area for late nightlife.