La Plaza Colonna

The Piazza Colonna (it. "column") crosses Via del corso, one of the main road in Rome.

The present shape was designed in the end of the 16th century, when Pope Sixtus V ordered rebuilding of the whole district. The name of the square comes from the monumental column of Marcus Aurelius placed in the middle of it. It was brought here around 176-193 to commemorate victories of Rome over the Marcomanni and Sarmatians. The rectangular square is surrounded by renaissance palaces. Once, there was the Austro-Hungarian Embassy. Nowadays, its building is a seat of the Italian Government. The Piazza Colona is also a place where the world-renowned "Il Tempo" newspaper was established and has had its headquarters in Palazzo Wedekind.