PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
Square with the Flaminio obelisk, a pleasant pedestrian area, a place for events and walks in Rome.
Impressive for its size, the Piazza del Popolo was conceived under the Medici as the monumental gateway to the city. Indeed, pilgrims followed via Ripetta to cross the Tiber and go to the Vatican, merchants took via del Corso to do their business in the center, while the nobles took via del Babuino to reach the Spanish Steps. The piazza del Popolo seems to be the heart of Rome, as these three streets start from the square in different directions: they are commonly called the Trident. On either side of the Corso, two apparently identical churches act as doors: Santa Maria in Montesanto (1675) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1678), built according to the will of Pope Alexander VII. However, look closely, in reality these two churches are not exactly the same since their domes are different: one is octagonal and the other dodecagonal. In the center of the square, you will also notice the Flaminio obelisk. It came from Egypt in the time of Augustus to decorate the Great Circus and was erected in the square under Sixtus V (1589). Enclosed by two hemicycles, Piazza del Popolo is now a pedestrian area, a place for events (concerts in the summer, public and political events throughout the year) and for walking. Starting from the right of the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, you can go up to the Pincio garden, on the edge of the Villa Borghese, to have one of the best views of Rome and the square.
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