I cd burro', "palazzetti" di Sant'Ignazio

I'm adding this place to Maps again, along with its FIRST review, because, just as those who commissioned them thought, I too believe that such a masterpiece of urban architecture cannot remain without the right setting. The Roman name is a corruption, certainly, but it doesn't derive from the shape of a chest of drawers, a desk (bureaux, then burò, and then further corrupted into burrò), but from the fact that they housed the Napoleonic commercial offices (first) and the command of the Bourbon troops (later), both of French origin but in the singular (and the adjacent street also previously belonged to the burrò, in the singular). It was 1727, shortly after the consecration of the church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, and Pope Benedict XIII deemed the square that housed that beautiful Jesuit church unworthy of such beauty, so he commissioned Filippo Raguzzini to build a suitable residential complex. From this architect's genius came the design based on three tangent ovals, the largest of which determines the layout of the central building while the lateral ones influence the shapes of the buildings bordering the square. We never pay enough attention to this, everyone busy queuing for selfies in the virtual mirror (how kitsch), but try turning around and see how those shapes intertwine in perfect harmony. Need some useful info? Then leave a like and check out other reviews of Rome and beyond.

Piazza di Sant'Ignazio in Rome is one of those places that surprises with its balance between architectural elegance and urban intimacy. While it's not among the city's most famous squares, it's a hidden gem that's definitely worth a visit.

Located in the heart of the historic center, between the Pantheon and Via del Corso, the square opens up almost suddenly after navigating the narrow streets of the Pigna district. This sense of surprise is part of its charm.

The focal point is undoubtedly the Church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, a Baroque masterpiece designed by Orazio Grassi in the 17th century. The church's interior is famous for Andrea Pozzo's illusionistic fresco, which simulates a nonexistent dome and a vault open to the sky. Although this is inside, the illusionist aesthetic is reflected in the layout of the square: elegant yet sober, theatrical yet intimate.

The square itself is surrounded by beautiful 18th-century buildings (including the Carabinieri headquarters for the protection of artistic heritage and the Rome Chamber of Commerce), designed by Filippo Raguzzini, arranged to form a curved stage backdrop. This unique design gives the square a sense of harmony and theatricality.

Unlike more crowded squares like Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori, Sant'Ignazio has a quiet and contemplative atmosphere. It is a secluded, almost intimate space, where you can sit and watch the world go by, or enter the church for a moment of wonder and silence.

Nearby, there are excellent cafes (special mention goes to Caffettiera napoletana in the adjacent Piazza di Pietra and Caffè Di Rienzo in Piazza della Rotonda) and restaurants (the Sabatino restaurant right on the square is a must), ideal for a relaxing break.

The strategic location also makes it a perfect stop on a cultural walking tour.

"i Burrò" or 'Palazzetti di Sant'Ignazio' facing Sant'Ignazio are easy to miss if your eye goes straight to the church, but they are what make the piazza so memorable. Built in the eighteenth century as rental buildings, they curve and pinch the space into something closer to a stage set than a normal Roman square. The central block has an unusual triangular plan, while the rounded façades and balconies keep shifting your angle as you walk in. Instead of giving the church away at once, the buildings break the approach into fragments and partial views, which makes the whole scene feel playful and slightly theatrical. Their later nickname, tied to the old bureaux once housed here, adds another layer of Roman oddity to an already very clever urban design.