The Piazza del Popolo is a very spacious oval square which you can find inside the northern gate of the Aurelian walls. You will enjoy the lively atmosphere inside the piazza because it hosts several festivals throughout the year.
You can find the formidable Porta del Popolo at the northern side of the piazza. This gate will lead you directly to Via Flaminia.
There are numerous attractions inside this popular public square. Your stay in Rome will not be complete if you cannot visit Piazza del Popolo which is one of the oldest plazas of the city.
The Obelisk of Popolo
Piazza del Popolo is very popular because of the enormous obelisk you can see in the middle of the square. This is an Egyptian construction and is one of the oldest and tallest obelisks in the entire city of Rome.
You will find four Egyptian lion fountains surrounding the base of the obelisk. The obelisk is 24 meters high not including its plinth. This is a perfect place for taking souvenir photos.
The Twin Churches of Popolo
If you head south, you will find the famous symmetrical twin churches of the piazza. These are the Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Santa Maria in Montesanto.
These churches offer wonderful neoclassical design and look very symmetrical when you are far away. When you look at them closely, you will notice that one is smaller than the other.
They look very similar though because of the construction of their domes. One church, the Santa Maria dei Miracoli, has a circular dome. The other church has an oval dome.
If you head north towards the Porta del Popolo, you will find the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. This is a very ancient church and you can feel its history simply by walking along its marble aisles.
Famous Fountains in Piazza del Popolo
The central attraction in the square is of course the Obelisk fountains at the center. But you can find other public fountains inside the piazza which are equally magnificent.
One of the most majestic fountains you can find inside Rome is the Fontana della Dea Roma. You can find this fountain at the far right side of the piazza.
This fountain features the goddess of Rome holding a spear and wearing a helmet. The statue is huge and the fountain basin is adorned with intricate designs. It also features the founders of Rome suckling on the she-wolf.
Opposite the Dea Roma fountain is the Fountain of Neptune. This fountain features the giant statue of Neptune holding a trident. Neptune here has two Tritons at his feet and they are riding on two excellently designed dolphins.
Piazza del Popolo is very near the Borghese Park. You can also easily access the Piazza Venezia through the Via del Corso. And if you want to head on to Piazza di Spagna, just take a walk along the Via del Babuino and you can get to the Spanish steps in just a few minutes.
There is a Metro Station near the Piazza del Popolo. If you take the Metro to go there, get off at the Flaminio Station and you will be at the Piazza in no time.
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