Piazza del Popolo

The Piazza del Popolo ( People's Square after the church of Santa Maria del Popolo ) is one of the most famous squares in Rome. It was the place where the visitor entered Rome when he traveled from the north on the Via Flaminia and the Via Cassia in the city since ancient times.

About the Name

For the explanation of the name Piazza del Popolo, there are different traditions. So should remember that it was built with the money of the Roman population, the name of the place. To another tradition, according to the name recalls the poplars which formerly stood here. According to a third theory, the word ' Popolo ' nothing to do with today's word 'people', but is an older term for a parish.

Streets

From Piazza del Popolo go since the 16th century from the three main streets, Via del Corso, Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta, as the Tridente ( trident ) are known.

  • The Via del Corso is the only road that an ancient road train - namely the Via Flaminia - follows. It ends Romanum near the Capitol and the Forum at the Piazza Venezia.
  • The Via di Ripetta leads since 1518 to the former Ripetta port on the Tiber and on to the Vatican.
  • 1525 Via Paolina created as the last of the three roads that lead today as Via del Babuino to Piazza di Spagna and on to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

Shaping

Today's design in the neoclassical style created 1811-1822 by the architect Giuseppe Valadier. This was in 1793 submitted a first draft of the under Pope Alexander VII several times remodeled space. A trapezoidal space in this plan was provided, the shorter side should be oriented towards the Via Flaminia. The limitation of the longitudinal sides garrison buildings were provided. Valadier was following the recommendations of the architectural theorist Francesco Milizias who wanted to avoid a mixtilinear conditioning monotony. This design, however, was completely ignored in the final design. Rather Valadier designed two semicircles, reminiscent of Bernini's design of St. Peter's Square.

In the center of Piazza Flaminio is the Obelisco, the second oldest and with 23,90 m Height (with base and cross 36,50 m) is the second largest Egyptian obelisk in Rome. To the north is the gate, the Porta del Popolo, near the gate the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the adjoining Augustinian monastery Martin Luther lived during his stay in Rome.

To the south are the famous twin churches of Santa Maria in Monte Santo left, the Carlo Rainaldi in the 17th century built Pope Alexander VII commissioned. The lantern of this church building was designed by Bernini. Right of Corso followed Santa Maria dei Miracoli, to whose construction also Carlo Fontana was involved. One difficulty for Rainaldi was that the two building sites were unequal. The left space was much smaller than the right. He solved the problem by elliptical dome the left, the right, however, some designed.

To the east of Pinciohügel tower, a park, located in the north of the hill the Villa Borghese. The fountain, designed by Valadier, the goddess Roma with the rivers Tiber and Aniene dar. On the opposite side of the square Valadier designed a fountain with Neptune and two tritons. Also by this architect comes the lion fountain in the center of the square.

  • W-N -S -O

Piazza del Popolo ( north view with Porta del Popolo and Santa Maria del Popolo )

Piazza del Popolo east view to the Pincio

Piazza del Popolo (facing south with Santa Maria di Monte Santo, Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Obelisk )

Pincian Hill Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo St. Peter's Square List of obelisks in Rome Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto Neptune (mythology)
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