From Piazza Buenos Aires, off Viale Regina Margherita, one leaves behind Santa Maria Addolorata, the Argentinean church, to pass under an arch off Via Tagliamento with its welcoming Madonna statue to enter the fairy tale world of Coppedé, a unique set of 27 homes and 17 ‘palazzini’ created by the architect Gino Coppedé, the Italian master of the Stile Liberty.

They were built in the years 1921-27 to show a rich variety of urban designs. The neighborhood was designed to be ‘casual elegant’ rather than ‘popular’. Coppedé used random asymmetry, played with styles, created an architectural collage of features from various historical periods, and, while interesting, was not imitated and was called ‘irrelevant’ by his critics.

Piazza Mincio, at the intersection of four radiating streets (Vie Dora, Tanaro, Brenta and Aterno) with the Fontana delle Rane, (the Frog Fountain) at its center, is the most magical with its whimsical houses, large and small. The piazza is often used for films, famously by Dario Argento and Federico Fellini. Further along is a strada privata, Via Olona. Coppedé then ends at Via Ombrone.