Piazza del Popolo, the People’s Square, sits at the northern gate of Rome’s historic center. Popolo means people in Italian, and in the past, passing through the Porta del Popolo truly meant entering Rome. Walking from Piazza Venezia straight along Via del Corso brings you right to Piazza del Popolo.
The photo above shows Piazza del Popolo seen from the Pincio Hill. The 36-meter obelisk was made around 1200 BC under Ramesses II and brought to Rome as spoils by Emperor Augustus. Raised in 1589 under the urban plan of Pope Sixtus V, it is an Egyptian relic more than 3,000 years old. In contrast to the harmony of the square, built through centuries of effort, this square also saw many cruel public executions.
Behind the obelisk stand the twin churches, Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. From afar they look identical, which is why they are called twins, but the plots of land differ, so they were carefully built to look the same without actually being identical.
This is the Pincio Hill path, built by the Pincio family around the 4th century. Following the garden promenade leads to Borghese Park, and from the top of the Pincio Hill, Piazza del Popolo spreads out below.
Around the central obelisk of Piazza del Popolo stands the Lion Fountain. Unlike the image of a male lion with a flowing mane, these are smooth-headed lioness sculptures.
In front of the lion fountain: me, Hyunchul, Hana, Seungdo, Inkyung, Gyuhong and Soyoung.
In front of the twin churches. Look closely and you can see the twin churches are not exactly twins.
On the way up the Pincio Hill, we passed what looked like a fountain, though not much water was flowing.
A lion statue before the Pincio Hill; follow the promenade behind it to Borghese Park.
From the top of the Pincio Hill. Piazza del Popolo should be visible behind me, but you cannot see it here.
On the Pincio Hill, I closed my eyes: me, Inkyung, Seungdo, Hyunchul, Gyuhong and Hana.
Me, Seungdo and Hyunchul.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in January 2008 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.