Piazza Mastai
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Rome, The Eternal City
You’ve reached Piazza Mastai, named after Pope Pius IX, born Giovanni Mastai. The square was named after him because he chose this spot in 1860 to build the papal tobacco factory you see before you. But if you were fluent in Latin, you’d already know that because it’s written right here! The entrance gate is relatively small compared to the rest of the building. They say the Pope himself joked about it when he visited, exclaiming: “Now that I’ve entered through the window, let’s see where the door is!”. So there you have it. A Pope with a great sense of humor, and a lovely square to remember him by.
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