Piazza del Popolo, Rome

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The Piazza del Popolo is a square in Rome, Italy. The name in modern Italian literally means "piazza of the people", but historically it derives from the poplars (populus in Latin, pioppo in Italian) after which the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the northeast corner of the piazza, takes its name.

The Piazza lies inside the northern gate in the Aurelian Walls, once the Porta Flaminia of ancient Rome, and now called Porta del Popolo. This was the starting point of the Via Flaminia, the road to Ariminum (modern Rimini) and the most important route to the north. At the same time, before the age of railroads, it was the traveller's first view of Rome upon arrival. For centuries, the Piazza del Popolo was a place for public executions, the last of which took place in 1826.

The layout of the piazza today was designed in neoclassical style between 1811 and 1822 by the architect Giuseppe Valadier,who demolished some insignificant buildings and haphazard high screening walls, to form two semicircles, reminiscent of Bernini's plan for St. Peter's Square, replacing the original cramped trapezoidal square centred on the Via Flaminia. Valadier's Piazza del Popolo, however, incorporated the verdure of trees as an essential element, and conceived his space in a third dimension, with the building of the

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The first pic shows a general view of the square.
The second, a part of it.
The third, S.M. Maria dei Miracoli church.
The fourth, S.M. del Popolo church.
The last, Porta del Popolo.

Metro: Flaminio (line A).

There are two beautiful churches standing side by side in this Piazza (there is yet another one on the far side of the Piazza which contains work by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini...).

The "twins" are pictured here... Santa Maria di Montesanto on the left, and the other, Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Bernini had a hand in these churches, although they are by Rainaldi.

This area is called the Tridente, and, among other things - you can do some serious shopping here! Via del Babuino is down the left side (if you are looking at my photos) and down that street you will find the Spanish Steps (along the way, many shops and good restaurants). Via del Corso is down the center - my hotel, Hotel Parlamento, is just off Via del Corso. Via Ripetta is the far right street. My favorite (so far) pizza restaurant is on Via Ripetta (Pizza Re).

Piazza del Popolo is a bit of a modern day oddity. It was the main centre for Roman life for centuries, the gate Porta del Popolo the northern entrance to the city, it was the main execution spot, the stunning Santa Maria del Popolo (begun in 1472) stands proudly overloking the piazza, the Egyptian obelisk in the centre has stood here since 1589 (moved from Circus Maximus). Yet 21st century Piazza del Popolo, given its oval shape at the beginning of the 19th century, is one giant carpark!

The Piazza del Popolo is the most beautiful square of Rome - marked by a monumental obelisk in the center of the square. From the square three main roads lead into the city, the most famous the Via Corso (a famous commercial centre). My favourite place in Rome.

The Piazza del Popolo, or "Plaza of the People" or, "Popular plaza" was once the first sight people saw of Rome, as they came from the empire by Roman Road through the northern gate.

In 1816 Giuseppe Valadier redesigned Piazza del Popolo around the obelisk, placed here in 1589.

The two, almost twin, churches of S. Maria di Montesanto (left) and S. Maria dei Miracoli (right) were designed by Carlo Rainaldi, but Gian Lorenzo Bernini gave advice on how to emphasize the similarity between the two churches. S. Maria di Montesanto was erected first (1678) and S. Maria dei Miracoli a few years later (1681).

We met our first VTourister, Sarah, at the Piazza fountain under a water-spewing lion.

A small museum with real working models (some true to size) of da Vinci's machines. Tricky part is, some machines you can tinker with, others say "Do Not Touch". It was amusing to watch the two young curators admonishing the ones who touched the forbidden items.

Two favorite items: the closet of mirrors- check yourself out; and the gruesome horse-drawn wagon with scythes for mowing down enemies at the front, rear and sides.

Open daily 9:30 to 8pm.

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From the east side it is possible to take steps and paths to the Pincio gardens above the piazza. It is all up hill....

Before we leave the piazza, here is an interesting, gruesome fact: For centuries this piazza was the place of public executions. (I felt no cold chills of any ghosts while here though...)

There is so much to see in the large, open piazza. Dominating the center is the 36 metres high oblelisk from Heliopolis, brought to Rome by Augustus, first diplayed in Circus Maximus. Moved here to this piazza by Pope Sixtus V in 1589. (Do you know people, that everytime you go to their house, they've rearranged their furniture? Well, that's what the ancient Romans were like, always moving things around...)

As luck would have it, for us, the obelisk (July '06) is covered for restoration!!! But we could pet the four water spitting lions at the base...

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This large square is a crossroad of three streets very important for shopping and make up the so-called trident (via del babuino, via del Corso and via di Ripetta).
The splendid setting of this place is featured by the huge egiptian obelisk wich dominates the scene just in the middle of the square and the twin churches located beside the three streets I've mentioned. Piazza del Popolo is popular also to be a typical meeting point for the roman people for socializing or when the want to celebrate some important national victory in some sports (expecially football!)