Rome, inaugurated the first part of the new Piazza dei Cinquecento at Termini Station

Inaugurated last January 14 the new Piazza dei Cinquecento in Rome: the ceremony was attended by the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, the undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Alfredo Mantovano, the CEO of the FS Group Stefano Donnarumma and councillors Ornella Segnalini and Eugenio Patanè. An inauguration, however, half-hearted, since the works in the square in front of Roma Termini Station have yet to finish, moreover, there was no lack of some criticism that citizens expressed via social for how the green area in front of the station looks now.

The one in Piazza dei Cinquecento is one of the most significant interventions of Jubilee 2025, both for the extension of as much as 90 thousand square meters (the area of nine soccer fields, in practice), and for the visual and functional impact in the heart of the city, in a square that has always been a calling card for those arriving in Rome by train. Work began on October 9, 2023 with a total cost of about 21 million euros.

The work, initially divided into two lots, has seen an acceleration with simultaneous interventions that have allowed about 85 percent of the second lot to be completed. Total completion is scheduled for the summer of 2026. For the new Piazza dei Cinquecento, 30 thousand square meters of marble and stone, 20 thousand square meters of sanpietrini, 10 thousand square meters of architectural concrete have been used, and there will be 10 thousand square meters of new green areas. In addition, 6 thousand square meters of asphalt was used to optimize driveways and pedestrian ways.

“The intervention by decree of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers was originally divided into two lots, the second was to be carried out in 2026 but with 540 days of simultaneous work of the firms,” explained Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. “The bulk is done. We can now give back to the citizens this space for the bus terminals and that for the cab pier, this area acquires a value appropriate to be the gateway to the Capital of Italy. The parts still under construction will all be finished by the summer of 2026, and some small things will also go to completion in the coming weeks.”

“With the opening of Piazzale dei Cinquecento, in front of Termini station, we give back a part of the city to the Romans,” comments Roma Capitale’s Councillor for Public Works and Infrastructure, Ornella Segnalini. “The intervention covers a very large area with a widespread construction site between the railway junction and Piazza della Repubblica. The first part in front of the Planetarium is complete and already alive and lived in. Soon the Dogali garden, a misunderstood place, will also see full completion and can finally be enjoyed by all. It is an intervention of architectural quality, with choice of fine materials that recall the architecture of Termini Station, respecting De Vico’s original design. By next summer everything will be completed and Rome will have a new redeveloped space with great visual impact.”

The project, which bears the signature of architectural firms TVK and It’s, was designed to maintain a deep respect for the historical and architectural context of the area. The paving and materials chosen dialogue with Termini Station, recalling the original language of Angelo De Vico’s project and adapting it to modern needs.

The new Piazza dei Cinquecento is thus intended to represent a step towards a more modern and livable vision of Rome through the combination of green spaces, fine materials and a more rational management of mobility. Indeed, one of the main goals of the project was to improve mobility flows around Termini station, rationalizing the spaces dedicated to public transport and reducing the historic chaos of the square. Northbound bus lines have been moved toward Via Marsala, creating a progressive “calm gradient” toward the square. In addition, the terminus area has been reorganized to ensure greater efficiency, while the cab dock has been rethought to improve access.

Finally, the works included the reorganization of greenery, the removal of kiosks and encouraged the rationalization of urban spaces. The entrance to the station was freed up gradually, thus integrating with the architectural, archaeological and cultural profiles of the area. The widespread construction site involved the redevelopment and surface arrangement of three areas for an amount of 45 million euros and 540 days of work.

However, as anticipated, there was no shortage of criticism. The reason for this is the fact that, on impact, the square appears to be not very green compared to the renderings: in fact, the whole area towards the station is without greenery, and in addition the planting of the arboretum envisaged by the project has slipped, plus it will be changed from the initial project because a 19th-century customs house was found underground, which slowed down the work. Many, therefore, were the negative comments under the post by Roma Mobilità, which released the first photograph of the new square, with a lone pine tree standing out against the sunny esplanade: “a white esplanade without canopies,” comments one user, “terminus in the blazing sun or pouring rain” is another comment, and then again “think how 45 degrees it will be,” “it looks like a mall parking lot,” “where did all the trees in the rendering go?”. There are also those who ironize with the witty wit typical of Romans: “it casts more shade than the Atac billboard,” “also useful as a runway for taking off and landing small single-engine aircraft,” “did they forget to saw that pine tree?”

The arboretum, which will be further enriched in the coming months, is inspired by the famous fresco of the Garden of Livia preserved in the Palazzo Massimo, reinterpreting the concept of domestic forest and wild garden. Gualtieri explained that it will be implemented, “The shade will be increased with the arboretum in the coming months. The plan is to maximize the trees and shade spaces, but in the vicinity of the metro station it was not possible to introduce trees for the underlying metro route.” There is also to consider that the new plantings will involve young saplings, so there will not be the majestic plants seen in the rendering: so tall plants and shade will have to wait for a few years.

Rome, inaugurated the first part of the new Piazza dei Cinquecento at Termini Station

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