Why visit / Interesting facts:
- Houses the unique twin churches
- Rome's elegant public living room
Time required: 15 minutes
Public transport:
- Metro Line A: Flaminio station
Address: Piazza del Popollo, Rome
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: MarcelGermain
Things you need to know:
- Piazza del Popolo is a large oval shaped pedestrian square in central Rome
- Its name literally means People's square but it actually derives from the Latin word for poplars
- This was the starting point of the Via Flaminia, the most important route to the North. Porta del Popolo or Porta Flaminia on the North side of the square used to be the entrance to Rome
- The 4000-year-old obelisk in the center originates from Alexandria and commemorates Augustus' conquest of Egypt in 10 BC
- Close to Porta del Popolo stands the church Santa Maria del Popolo that features artworks of such masters as Pinturicchio, Bramante, Raphael, Caravaggio and Bernini
- Another feature making the square remarkable is the Neoclassic twin church (Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli) on the South side, opposite of Porta del Popolo
- To the east, the square is bordered by the Pincio gardens, one of Rome's most romantic spots
What to do there:
- Walk around the large square
- Admire the Egyptian obelisk of Ramesses II that stands in the center of the Piazza, the "twin" churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto (on the left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (on the right) and the fountains
