And now you know Rome has many squares and some are very popular but for us this was it the people’s square or Piazza del Popolo of Rome!! Let me update for you and me this wonderful post of our family visit to Italy. Hope you enjoy it as I.
Coming back at you about Rome, eternal Roma of all its history, architecture and beauty kept over milleniums. We went there after my several business trips to take the family and stayed in an apartment right in the city. From it ,we criss cross the region by bus and walks. One of the highlights of our trip was to be able to do much walking and visited all the major sights ,however the squares were it for us. The moment we step into one it was like wow! I like to tell you a bit about the Piazza del Popolo of Rome!
Piazza del Popolo is a large monumental square, north of the historic center of Rome. Its name, in Italian, literally means place of the people, but it is historically derived from that of poplars trees, to which the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo (see post) at the northeast corner of the square, owes its appellation of origin. The square is located inside the northern gate of the Aurelian Wall, the porta Flaminia of ancient Rome, now called Porta del Popolo. It was the starting point of the Via Flaminia, an important Roman road that led to Ariminum (now Rimini) and to the whole of northern Italy. Before the railway era, it was the point of arrival in Rome of any traveller coming from the north. For centuries, the vast square, visible to all, but situated a little away from urban life, was a place of public executions, the last time in 1826.
The square or piazza as it stands today was conceived in the neoclassical style between 1811 and 1822 walls were drawn in two half-circles, recalling Bernini’s plan for St. Peter’s Square, replacing the original trapezoidal square, more narrow and centered on the Via Flaminia. Conceived its space in a third dimension, expressed by the construction of a ramp that leads to the hill and the gardens of the Pincio, which regulates the problem of difference between the square and the hill.
An Egyptian obelisk of Heliopolis, due to Seti I and erected later by Rameses II, is located in the center of the square. Three sides of the obelisk were carved under the reign of Seti I and the fourth side under Ramses II. The obelisk, known as the Flaminio Obelisk or Obelisk del Popolo, is the second oldest and one of the largest obelisks in Rome at about 24 meters high, or 36 meters, including the plinth. The obelisk was brought to Rome in 10 B.C. on the order of Augustus to adorn the spine of the Circus Maximus. It was rebuilt at its present location in the center of the square in 1589, as part of the urban plan wanted by Sixtus Quint.
Looking south, three streets branch from the square to the city, forming a so-called Trident: The Via del Corso in the center; Via del Babuino on the left opened in 1525 under the name of Via Olina and Via di Ripetta opened by Léon X in 1518 under the name of Via Leonina on the right. The twin Churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli c.1681 and Santa Maria in Montesanto c.1679, define the junctions of the streets. A careful examination of the twin Churches shows that they are not mere copies, as it would have been done in a neoclassical project, but that they are different in their details, offering a variety in their symmetrical equilibrium, quite in the Baroque style. The main street, the current Via Del Corso, is the old via Lata, which connects the old via Flaminia to the Capitol and the Forum. Via di Ripetta leads to the mausoleum of Augustus and the Tiber, whose baroque quays, called Porto di Ripetta, were visible until their destruction at the end of the 19C, during the canalization work of the river. Via del Babuino , which leads to Piazza di Spagna , takes its name from a grotesque sculpture of Siléne to which was given the popular name baboon.
The Fontana del Nettuno stands on the west side: Neptune, with its Trident, is accompanied by two dolphins. The statue of Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene marks the terminal point of the aqueduct: the goddess Rome is armed with a spear and a helmet, preceded by the wolf breastfeeding Romulus and Remus. In the center of the square is the Fontana dell ‘ Obelisco: Four small fountains surround the base of the obelisk, each with a lion on steps. Nice
My favorite reviews forum Yelp and former contributor myself (before blogging) has a take on the Piazza del Popolo: https://www.yelp.com/biz/piazza-del-popolo-roma-3
The Rome tourist office on Piazza del Popolo: https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/piazza-del-popolo
This is a wonderful square and when walking and coming in it is awesome experience. As said, one of the highlights of the family in Rome was walking into the squares! Piazza del Popolo is wonderful indeed, in eternal Rome.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 