Roma: Piazza del Popolo

The Piazza del Popolo, one of the grandest public spaces in Rome, stands at the apex of the famous triangle of roads (Via del Babuino, Via del Corso, and Via di Ripetta) known as the “Trident.” The twin churches of Santa Maria di Montesanto (at left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (at right), designed by Carlo Rainaldi [1611-1691], dominate the southern end of the Piazza. The obelisk at center was placed there in 1589 by Sixtus V. Over 3000 years old, it had originally been brought to Rome by Augustus after the conquest of Egypt, to adorn the Circus Maximus. Today, the piazza is ovoid, rather than rectangular as it appeared in Van Lint’s time, having been transformed as such in the 19th century by Giuseppe Valadier who also designed the Pincio Gardens that lie above the Piazza.