Piazza del Popolo

Getting There - You can take the bus, or Metro A and get off at Flaminio Station Attractions - yes plaza, cathedral Hotels - along the way nearby Food & Restaurants - yes Shopping - yes, shopping street, branded People's Square Piazza del Popolo is a very well-known square in Rome. In Italian the name means ‘People's Square’, but the name is actually derived from the poplars that surrounded the oval square. The original function of the neo-classical square, which was designed between 1811 and 1822, was welcoming visitors and pilgrims who entered Rome from the north over the Via Flaminia. Two unique buildings on the square are the almost identical baroque churches Santa dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. They lie opposite each other, separated by the Via del Corso. On the other side of the square is the Basilica Santa Maria del Popolo. The main attraction of this church are the 12 side chapels, such as the Cerasi chapel with paintings by Caravattio; the ‘conversion of Paul’ and the ‘crucifixion of Peter’. The Chigi chapel with mosaics representing creation were designed by Raphael.