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Galleria Alberto Sordi (Alberto Sordi Shopping Arcade): American News Service Office, Rome
In the Roman Holiday movie, Joe Bradley serves as a journalist at the American News Service Office in Rome. For those curious about the actual location of the office, it was set in the Alberto Sordi Gallery, formerly known as the Colonna Gallery Palace, in Colonna Square.
While the interior scenes of Joe Bradley’s workplace were filmed in a studio, the view outside the window accurately featured sights in front of the gallery, such as the marble Column of Marcus Aurelius, built in 193 AD, and the Colonna Square fountain, dating back to 1577.
The gallery itself, inaugurated in 1922, is a shopping arcade that also serves as one of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers’ headquarters. It was built on the former site of the 17th-century Piombino Palace demolished in 1888. The building is known for its elegant Art Nouveau architecture and striking stained-glass ceiling.
Following a 2003 restoration, it was renamed in honor of Alberto Sordi, a renowned Roman actor. Today, the gallery remains a prominent architectural and commercial hub, offering an array of high-quality shops. While some modern chain stores have appeared, the arcade still showcases Italy’s finest brands in a unique setting.
Beyond shopping, the Alberto Sordi Gallery provides a charming escape from the hustle of Via del Corso, making it a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and shoppers alike.
While the interior scenes of Joe Bradley’s workplace were filmed in a studio, the view outside the window accurately featured sights in front of the gallery, such as the marble Column of Marcus Aurelius, built in 193 AD, and the Colonna Square fountain, dating back to 1577.
The gallery itself, inaugurated in 1922, is a shopping arcade that also serves as one of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers’ headquarters. It was built on the former site of the 17th-century Piombino Palace demolished in 1888. The building is known for its elegant Art Nouveau architecture and striking stained-glass ceiling.
Following a 2003 restoration, it was renamed in honor of Alberto Sordi, a renowned Roman actor. Today, the gallery remains a prominent architectural and commercial hub, offering an array of high-quality shops. While some modern chain stores have appeared, the arcade still showcases Italy’s finest brands in a unique setting.
Beyond shopping, the Alberto Sordi Gallery provides a charming escape from the hustle of Via del Corso, making it a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and shoppers alike.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rome. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Galleria Alberto Sordi (Alberto Sordi Shopping Arcade): American News Service Office on Map
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Sight Name: Galleria Alberto Sordi (Alberto Sordi Shopping Arcade): American News Service Office
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Rome, Italy
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Rome is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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As the home of the Pope and the Catholic Curia, as well as the locus of many sites and relics of veneration related to apostles, saints and Christian martyrs, Rome had long been a destination for pilgrims. The Via Francigena was an ancient pilgrim route from England to Rome. It was customary to end the pilgrimage with a visit to the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul. Periodically, some were moved to... view more
Tour Duration: 6 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 16.9 Km or 10.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 6 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 16.9 Km or 10.5 Miles
Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain
An established tourist mecca, today's Rome is hardly imaginable without two of its much loved attractions – the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Magnets for tourists as they are, these two sights are connected to a number of other, not less worthy of attention locations, such as the Fountain of the Longboat or Piazza Colonna and its centerpiece, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Hidden Art Treasures in Rome
Rome is one of the world's top living museums, replete with some of the most iconic pieces of art on the face of the planet. Famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, to mention but a few, had lived and worked here and left indelible marks in the city.
Needless to say that the abundance of masterpieces makes Rome crowded with tourists anxious to see them, causing... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Vatican Walking Tour
Consisting of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the Vatican is the world’s smallest sovereign state, as well as a symbol (and headquarters) of the Roman Catholic faith. Although only 44 hectares in surface, one is amazed by the vastness of this place and the sheer size of everything. When gazing around in all directions, you realize how much can be achieved by people working in faith for... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Holy Sites Walking Tour
As the cradle of the Catholic Church, one of the world's largest organizations, Rome has a large number of valuable, sacred places of worship. Crowded with architectural splendors from different periods of time, each of its churches and basilicas represent a significant part of culture and history.
Take this self-guided walking tour to discover Rome's magnificent religious heritage,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.9 Km or 4.3 Miles
Take this self-guided walking tour to discover Rome's magnificent religious heritage,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.9 Km or 4.3 Miles
Roman Forum and Imperial Forums Walking Tour
It's a known fact that "Rome wasn't built in a day." But when it was finally built, it stood the test of time and became "the eternal city." Many have heard that "all roads lead to Rome," but very few probably realize that inside Rome itself all roads lead to the Forum.
The central hub of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum (also known by its Latin name... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The central hub of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum (also known by its Latin name... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
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