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Piazza del Popolo

First Impression of Rome

The Piazza del Popolo is located within the northern gate of Rome. It has a 36-meter high obelisk and three main roads that start from the square and go south, near which three churches of the Holy Virgin are built.

Piazza del Popolo is located within the northern gate of the city of Rome, Porta del Popolo, which was an important entrance to Rome before the invention of trains. Thus, for a long period of history, the Piazza del Popolo became the first impression of Rome.

The 36-meter-high Central Obelisk in the square was brought to Rome from Egypt by the order of Augustus in 10 B.C. and erected there since 1589. The layout of the Piazza del Popolo in Rome resembles that of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, with curved walls on each side and decorated with Neoclassical-style Fountains.

Manywhere Trivia:
“Popolo” is Italian for “people”, so the Porta del Popolo is the “People’s Gate”.

On the east side of the square, on the hill, there is a viewpoint called Pincio, or the Pincian Hill. This is a great viewpoint not only for The Piazza del Popolo, but also St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The three main streets, Via del Corso, Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino, start at Piazza del Popolo and spread out in a trident shape to the south. Two similar-looking Twin Churches, Santa Maria in Montesanto (Church of Our Lady of the Holy Mountain), and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Church of Our Lady of Miracles) were built at the junction of the streets.

Also, on the north side of the square, next to the Porta del Popolo, there is the less impressive Santa Maria del Popolo (Basilica of Our Lady of the People). Don’t be deceived by its humble appearance, this church has a collection of paintings and sculptures by artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael, and Bernini.

Santa Maria del Popolo

Works of Great Art Masters

The Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, built on the north side of the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, boasts an amazing art collection. The Chigi Chapel of the Church was designed by Raphael and is decorated with two sculptures of Bernini. Famous paintings by Caravaggio, Pinturicchio, and others can also be seen in the church.