Piazza del Popolo

My personal favourite among Rome's squares. I just couldn't stop turning around and around admiring it. To think that some lucky people actually live in (the few) apartments bordering this square! It's worth the trek up the stairs to look down on the square from above and admire the view of Rome. Simply magnificent.

I love arriving here and walking about with the rest of the Romans as they go about their daily life.

Not at all a place to go during the day (which we did.)

Might be that the evenings are pleasant here, we found the place deserted and by comparison relatively boring. Basically boring.
No place to sit for a coffee anywhere near, unless you go to any of the three posh Restos and spend bloody five euro on a cup. (Make sure to bring your "Prada"-Sunglasses!)

The walk from here up the steps and through a stretch of green towards the Spanish Steps compensated with a nice view over the Eternal City.

Piazza del Popolo, or People's Square, is another of Rome's great sights and for very particular reasons. It was originally named for the Poplar trees which populated the area . . . though the modern assumption that it is named for 'the People' also fits well.

The central Egyptian obelisk is set within fountains; there are also fountains at the Piazza's sides (Rome reputedly has at least 4000 'fountains').

What is unique about Piazza del Popolo is the view back towards Rome, three roads (Via del Babuino, Via del Corso, and Via di Ripetta which is set back a bit from the other two and framed by the twin churches of Santa Maria de Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli; both splendid examples of Baroque architecture) . . . . perspective, clever architecture and town planning also play their part to add to the deception. A closer look reveals that one church is indeed circular whilst the other is oval in shape and wider.

The whole piazza is a masterpiece of 18th century urban planning which also took in a remodelling of the views from the square back south towards the Pincio (the park over looking the square).

There are numerous smart bars and cafes around the edges of the square so you can dawdle and bask as you wish.

Actual name - Piazza del Popolo
Named so since the square is for the people (popolo). Nothing much to see though, apart from a few statues on the ends. Very central