Piazza dei Cinquecento, the large square outside Rome’s Termini station, reopened on Tuesday following extensive refurbishment.
The project aimed to create a welcoming gateway for the Roman Catholic Jubilee Holy Year.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri described the redesigned square as a “clear and wide” entry point, situated at the base of the station’s reinforced concrete wave. Piazza dei Cinquecento now features a series of parallel bands paved with travertine, dark basalt, and draining materials. The new bus terminals are marked by distinctive white, oval shelters.
For the Jubilee, the square has been transformed into a modern space. Mayor Gualtieri, also the commissioner for the Holy Year, noted, “After years of neglect, it now reflects the architectural heritage of the capital.”
Currently, 85% of the project is complete, including the station’s access areas, the new bus terminal, and the taxi zone. These facilities are essential for accommodating the millions of pilgrims expected to arrive by rail.
While construction continues on the left side of the square, buses started using the new stalls last night. The project is set to finish by summer. Gualtieri emphasised the work is ahead of schedule, with the second phase, originally planned for completion in 2026, already underway.
