Wayfinding and Urban Orientation Systems

Wayfinding in Rome can prove to be more challenging in some places when compared to others. In the airports, train stations, bus stops, there are signs that help you navigate. Universal icons that help you understand what the signs are communicating. But on the streets of Rome, there are not many signs that tell you where to go. 

There are some things that help you navigate and orient yourself when you are feeling unsure or lost. Sometimes the cobblestone patterns can help you find your way. In Piazza di Pietra, there is a specific layout that seems to help direct traffic. In front of the Temple of Hadrian there is a path of cobblestones that are smoother than the rest. The path follows a straight line in front of the temple and fans out when it reaches the street. There are also perpendicular cobblestone lines that start at the north end of the piazza and go to the south end where they meet the smooth path mentioned earlier. These perpendicular lines are very thin, but they lead you to the wide path that is laid out in front of the temple. A commonly used Gestalt theory, the law of continuity, when working with wayfinding. Other places in Rome used shapes on the ground or multiple textures that led you to the front entrance of a building. Sometimes lighting could be used, like in the metro station. There they use a single row of overhead lights that lead to the exit, or when entering the station, will lead to the platform. 

In Rome many times the facade of a building can help orient you. They tend to be more elaborate designs on the front as opposed to the sides of the building. In Florence you can do the same. The Piazza del Duomo is a major spot to help orient yourself. I know if I could find that, I could find the hotel. But many of the facades are not as decorated or elaborate so it may be more difficult. In Venice, it is much more difficult to do this because most of the city looks so similar. Oftentimes stores and restaurant front doors are found in the alley ways too. However there are still some open piazzas and small bridges over the canals that you can find to help orient yourself.