Hidden among Rome’s vibrant districts lies Prati a neighborhood steeped in history. Its name meaning meadows hints at its past as sprawling fields. Imagine the area before 1883 a vast expanse of wetlands pastures and farmhouses. Few knew it would become one of Rome’s most elegant districts.
Prati’s transformation began in 1873. Cardinal Xavier de Mérode a significant landowner brokered an agreement with the municipality. The plan was to build a new district. However the actual construction started only a decade later in 1883. The area was incorporated into Rome’s city plan. Even then Prati remained largely undeveloped. Infrastructure was lacking. De Mérode even paid for an iron bridge near Porto di Ripetta. It was later replaced by the more permanent Ponte Umberto I.
Mayor Ernesto Nathan tackled Prati’s administrative and urban challenges. This was between 1907 and 1914. The city’s rapid growth presented significant problems. The rione Prati was officially established in 1921. It was intended to house government offices and civil servants from across Italy.
A fascinating detail about Prati’s design is its street layout. The roads were intentionally planned. St Peter’s Basilica dome could not be seen from any of the new streets. This was a reflection of the complex relationship between the new Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See. The names of streets and squares further reinforce this. They commemorate prominent figures from the Roman Republic and Empire pagan writers scholars and heroes of the Risorgimento. Via Cola di Rienzo the rione’s main thoroughfare is named after a 14th-century leader who attempted to establish a republic in Rome. The street is now one of Rome’s most famous shopping streets.
Construction required significant earthworks. Large amounts of soil were brought in to raise the ground level. This was to protect the new district from the Tiber River floods. The clayey soil proved problematic. Many buildings needed extra stabilization. The Palace of Justice for instance required repeated reinforcement to prevent collapse.
Initially construction focused along Lungotevere dei Mellini and Via Vittoria Colonna. Prati’s urbanization continued into the first half of the 20th century. However many of the original buildings have been replaced by modern structures. Many existing buildings have also been expanded. Today Prati boasts wide geometric streets elegant Umbertino style buildings and Art Nouveau cottages. What was once a public housing district for civil servants is now a prestigious bourgeois neighborhood.