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This little piazza derives its name from the church of Sant'Eustachio, which stands in the
square. The church we see today was built in 1724 over the traditional site of the house
of Saint Eustace, martired in 120 A.D. The curious legend involving his conversion and
subsequent martyrdom is the theme of the frescoes which decorate the façade of the small palazzetto in front
 of the church: the Roman general
Eustace is converted during a hunting party, when a stag bearing a cross between its
horns suddenly appears in his path. The head of a stag bearing a crucifix between his
horns is visible on the roof of the church and on the capitals decorating the portico.
In the small piazza one may sit at the tables of one of the bars, famous for their creamy cappuccino,
and admire the splendid spiralling tower of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza,
soaring above the rooves of the surrounding buildings, or decide to inspect Borromini's creation at a closer range, by entering the
courtyard through the large portal on via del Teatro Valle. But one can also spend some
time inspecting the interesting shopwindows around the piazza.
Accessibility
The piazza is a relatively tranquil area compared to the adjacent via della Dogana
Vecchia, Salita dei Crescenzi and via Giustiniani, which can be quite full of double- and
triple-parked cars, because of the presence of the Senate in Palazzo Madama. To see
the façade of Sant'Ivo, one can easily penetrate the
courtyard of Palazzo della Sapienza, free of architectural barriers. Those who use
wheelchairs however must bear in mind that to proceed to Piazza
Navona, they must return to Piazza Sant'Eustachio, and take via dei Sediari.
in the photo: church of Sant'Eustachio |
