{"id":9548,"date":"2022-01-27T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T14:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/piazza-del-popolo-rome\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:08:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T13:08:51","slug":"piazza-del-popolo-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/piazza-del-popolo-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Piazza del Popolo in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nestled in the north of Rome’s historic center, Piazza del Popolo once served as the grand entrance to the Italian capital.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though it has long since lost this role, Piazza del Popolo remains one of the most iconic squares of the “Eternal City” and is definitely worth a visit. Follow the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top tip:<\/strong> Free guided city tour<\/a> (in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations:<\/strong> all our tips recommendations <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your stay:<\/strong> the complete guide to Rome<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Rome with children:<\/strong> all our tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief History of Piazza del Popolo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the 16th<\/sup> century, the building Pope Sixtus V \u2013 Felice Peretti \u2013 embarked on a major redevelopment project for Piazza del Popolo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Porta Flaminia \u2013 later renamed Porta del Popolo \u2013 located on the square, was until the advent of the railway, the main gateway to the Eternal City for all travelers arriving from the north via the Via Flaminia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, Piazza del Popolo was the first impression visitors had of Rome and naturally had to live up to the legendary reputation of the Eternal City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next three centuries, Sixtus V’s successors continued his grand project. At the beginning of the 19th<\/sup> century \u2013 between 1811 and 1823 \u2013 Popes Pius VII and Leo XII entrusted neoclassical architect Giuseppe Valadier with the significant task of remodeling Piazza del Popolo to give it the symmetrical and harmonious appearance that visitors recognize today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Piazza<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Previously trapezoidal in shape, the square adopted an elliptical plan at the crossroads of Via Flaminia to the north, the Trident formed by Via di Ripetta, Via del Corso, and Via del Babuino to the south, the Pincio hill to the east, and Via Ferdinando di Savoia to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valadier demolished some of the buildings bordering the square, replacing them with more harmonious structures, planted trees, and designed a grand staircase to connect the Pincio gardens with Piazza del Popolo below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Campo de\u2019 Fiori<\/a>, Piazza del Popolo also served as a site for public executions, with the last one occurring in 1826.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Piazza del Popolo: “People’s Square” or “Poplar Square”?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although the name Piazza del Popolo is now translated as “People’s Square,” it originally derived from the Latin word “populus<\/em>,” meaning “poplar”!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Piazza del Popolo in Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Porta del Popolo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Part of the Aurelian Wall \u2013 a defensive wall built under the reigns of Emperors Aurelian and Probus in the 3rd<\/sup> century AD \u2013 the Porta del Popolo as we know it today was constructed in 1475 by order of Pope Sixtus IV, on the site of an ancient Roman gate (Porta Flaminia).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 16th<\/sup> century, Porta del Popolo was remodeled by architect Nanni di Baccio Bigio, who was inspired by the Arch of Titus, built in the 1st<\/sup> century AD by Emperor Domitian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inner fa\u00e7ade of the gate \u2013 facing the square \u2013 was created by sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (known as Bernini) and honors Queen Christina of Sweden (a convert to Catholicism) who visited Rome in grand style in 1655.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1879, the two towers flanking the gate were demolished. Eight years later, the gate was pierced with two lateral arches to facilitate the passage of the increasingly numerous travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Porta<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Obelisk of Piazza del Popolo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standing in the center of the square, the obelisk of Piazza del Popolo is a war trophy brought from Egypt by the victorious armies of Emperor Augustus. Constructed under the reigns of Pharaohs Seti I and Ramses II, the obelisk originally stood at the Circus Maximus before being damaged during the barbarian invasions at the end of antiquity..<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took several centuries for the obelisk to make a comeback. In 1587, architect Domenico Fontana unearthed and restored it by order of Pope Sixtus V, who was also overseeing a vast redevelopment of Piazza del Popolo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing 26.90 meters \/ 85.3 ft tall (36.50 meters \/ 118 ft with the base and cross on top), the obelisk was surrounded by four fountains featuring lion statues in 1823, symbolizing the coat of arms of newly elected Pope Leo XII.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Church of Santa Maria del Popolo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located next to Porta del Popolo, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo (Saint Mary of the People) was built at the very end of the 11th<\/sup> century on the site of Emperor Nero’s tomb, by order of Pope Paschal II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four centuries later, the church was entirely rebuilt by architects Baccio Pontelli and Andrea Bregno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santa Maria del Popolo is a paradise for art lovers. Renovated in the 17th<\/sup> century by Bernini, it features a chapel designed by Raphael (the Chigi Chapel) with a dome decorated with a massive mosaic depicting the Creation of the World<\/em>. The church also houses two works by Caravaggio: The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Road to Damascus<\/em> and The Crucifixion of Saint Peter<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A must-see for all art and history lovers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Church<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Twin Churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built on either side of Via del Corso by Carlo Rainaldi, Bernini, and Carlo Fontana, the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (completed in 1681) and Santa Maria in Montesanto (completed in 1679) appear identical at first glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don’t be fooled: there are a few differences in their layout and their baroque fa\u00e7ades!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Twin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fountains of Piazza del Popolo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like many Roman squares (Piazza Navona<\/a>, Piazza di Spagna<\/a>…), Piazza del Popolo is dotted with fountains sculpted by some of Italy’s greatest artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to stop and admire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n