Piazza del Popolo, meeting point of three main streets of the historic center, namely Via del Babuini, Via Ripetta and Via del Corso, is located at the foot of the Pincio and is one of the most famous squares in the world.
In ancient times, the square hosted shows and games, and for this Bernini had the “Felici faustoque ingressui MDCLV” engraved on the Porta del Popolo (the ancient Porta Flaminia) (“For a happy and auspicious entrance”).
Giuseppe Valadier took care of the realization of the two majestic fountains on the sides of the square, the two twin churches (Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli) with a baroque look and wanted by Alessandro VII, see the light with Carlo Rainaldi completed by Bernini together with Carlo Fontana. At the center of the square stands the oldest obelisk in Rome, the Flaminio Obelisk.
The church of Santa Maria del Popolo presents numerous works of art, among the most famous are two paintings by Caravaggio: the Conversion of Saint Paul and the Crucifixion of Saint Peter.
In past years, famous people for their “Roman”, as Trilussa, Guttuso and Pasolini, have frequented the square and its premises, thus making Piazza del Popolo one of the typical places of Roman culture.
