8 facts about Piazza Del Popolo
| Rolling Rome
Piazza del Popolo is a beautiful, oval, neoclassical square, situated close to the Borghese Park. It is one of the largest open areas in the historic center of Rome. It has a long and interesting history dating back to 3th century AD. and was the first or the last thing that travelers met entering or leaving the city. It was designed by Giuseppe Valadier from 1811 to 1822.
- Porta del Popolo The northern side of the square is dominated by a magnificent gate, which leads to via Flaminia, a road built in 220 AD. to connect Rome with the Adriatic coast. Since antiquity this was the entrance of many travelers, and one of the most important roads, leading to the city. It has been known by several names throughout its history. The original name is Porta Flaminia, which some even call it today, but it’s officially known as Porta del Popolo. The name was changing during the years with the expansions that had been made. In 1562 pope Pius IV commissioned architect Nanni di Baccio Bigio to construct a large gate, the Porta Flaminia, to impress the pilgrims who had entered the city. The arrival of the Swedish Queen Christina in the 17th century was the reason they made another restoration and this time the honor to show his talent had the famous Italian artist Bernini. He added a plaque above the arch; a plaque which can still be seen today. Its inscription says; “For a Happy and Propitious Entrance, year 1655” and it refers to the visit of the Queen Christina. She never left Rome again, so her entrance was obviously “happy and propitious”.
- The Name The church Santa Maria Del Popolo is thought to be the one that the square is named after . The name of the square literally means “the Peoples Square”, but the name originally comes from the word “populous”, which is the Latin name for a type of tree that is believed to have been growing at the site of the church.
- The Obelisk Today on the square you can see many impressive structures, but the eye catcher is the 23.2 (72ft.) tall obelisk. Erected in the very center of the piazza this Egyptian authentic treasure is standing since 16th century. It was brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus in 10 BC., to honor the Roman Empire’s conquest of Egypt. It was built in 1300 BC and it stood in the Sun Temple area of Heliopolis. Pope Sixtus V and his architect, Domenico Fontana, in 1589,who had the pillar from Egypt raised to the main area of the Piazza del Popolo from the Circus Maximus.
