Piazza del Popolo, Public square in central Rome, Italy
Description
Piazza del Popolo is an oval square in central Rome with three streets extending south and two facing churches at their fork. At the center stands an Egyptian obelisk surrounded by four lion fountains and broad paving stones.
History
The square was for centuries the entrance to the city for travelers coming from the north and originally lay just outside the walls. Between 1811 and 1822 the architect Giuseppe Valadier transformed the old irregular space into the current oval shape.
Culture
The name refers to the poplars that once grew here and to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo on the northern edge. Today the square serves as a meeting point and a starting place for walks through the Roman streets that radiate from it.
Practical
The square is reachable through Flaminio metro station on Line A and works well as a starting point for explorations heading south. Early morning and late evening are quieter, while the daytime can be more crowded.
Did you know?
The twin churches Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto look identical from outside but have different floor plans and dome shapes inside. The obelisk was originally carved in the 13th century BCE for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II and later brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus.
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Rome preserves more than 2,000 years of architectural history within its city limits, maintaining ancient temples and amphitheaters beside Renaissance churches and Baroque piazzas. The Roman Forum displays ruins from the first century BC through the fourth century AD, including government buildings...
Rome has places made for couples. This collection shows spots where you can take your time, see the city from a different angle, and enjoy quiet moments away from many tourists. You can find the Trevi Fountain at night, the high gardens like the Orange Grove or the Pincian Terrace, the shady banks...
Spanish Steps
741 m
Ara Pacis
486 m
Piazza di Spagna
712 m
Mausoleum of Augustus
513 m
Villa Borghese gardens
798 m
Villa Medici
581 m
Santa Maria del Popolo
75 m
Fontana della Barcaccia
733 m
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Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Roma
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Chigi Chapel
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Santa Maria in Montesanto
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Cerasi Chapel
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Santa Maria dei Miracoli
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Flaminio Obelisk
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Palazzo Borghese
760 m
Casina Valadier
286 m
Keats-Shelley Memorial House
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Temple of Aesculapius
711 m
Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto
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Palazzo Ruspoli
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Fountain
431 m
Palazzo Marina
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