Rena E.

We visited this area because it was the meeting point for our bus tour. At 7:00 a.m., not much was happening; a few people were walking and jogging around the piazza, and all the businesses were closed, creating a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. In the center was a fountain and an obelisk, while at the far end of the piazza entrance were restaurants and stores. In contrast, when we returned about ten hours later, the area was packed with people. It was quite different from the earlier, quieter version. The atmosphere was lively, with live music in the air. All the shops were busy, and diners filled the restaurants. Just as we were about to immerse ourselves in the experience, an intoxicated man suddenly began encroaching on my daughter's personal space. Our decision to stay quickly shifted to a desire to leave, as he was relentless and made us feel uncomfortable.

Lexie K.

Great piazza to hang out in any time of day. Constantly full of life with tons of people. At night there are a bunch of musicians preforming. Lots of great food in the area to grab to go and eat around the piazza. Tons of great shopping there as well.

Sharon B.

Nice large piazza with an obelisk and fountains with lions. The obelisk is a landmark and makes it easy to find. Our tour company used the piazza was a meeting place. There are restaurants and shops around. We were meeting early so only one cafe was open. We grabbed a quick breakfast there. The metro is nearby and the bus stops were right across the street.

Maruko X.

The Piazza del Popolo is a large, open square with twin churches, the Flaminio Obelisk, and the Fountain of Neptune. It's a very popular place for concerts and shows, and is a good starting point for sightseeing in this region. I liked walking to the farther and higher point for the panoramic view.

Bruce K.

"Popolo" from the poplar trees that gave the name to the Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo in the plaza. Lots to see here including the pretty amazing Porta del Popolo (city gates) and the Egyptian obelisk of Sety I brought back from Heliopolis. The piazza is quite the hangout for the people, with plenty of folks milling about, taking selfies and even a few street hawkers selling touristy stuff. There are three fountains in the square and the Flaminio metro station is close. Worth checking out, for sure. [Review 19185 overall - 340 in Italy - 155 of 2023.]

Bladimir M.

Beautiful area with multiple monuments and statues. Architecture is breathtaking. Very crowded though; lots of touristd and locals selling goods! The square is lively and energetic in terms of its feel! Close to restaurants and shops too.

Sanjay G.

A short walk across and along the Tiber River will bring you to the Piazza del Popolo. This was once the northern edge of the city of Rome and was the first part of the city that many travelers would have seen when arriving here in the 17-18th Century. It is a large oval square in northern Rome that has been around since the days of the Roman Empire. The square literally translates as the square of the people, is home to one of Rome's ancient Egyptian Obelisks, as well as the two 17th century churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Several ornate fountains frame the square including the Fontana del Netuno and the Fontana dell Obelisco. It's a nice place to get a coffee or a bite to eat. From the Piazza del Popolo, three roads span out into the city, and exploring these on foot is always a highlight of our trips to Rome. Well if you have time, you can get an impressive view of the piazza by climbing the stairs, located on the east side of the square, to Pincio Park. After this, we headed for Spanish steps

Benny H.

A plaza right by our hotel that's pretty much close to everything. The statues here are something to marvel at, and appreciate. To bad the extra rose men are here. I'm so tired of the rose men! So who are the rose men? They are men with a handful of roses that go to the women and give them a rose for a gift. They pretty much force it upon you. They leave and come back about 2-3 minutes later demanding a tip. They gave one to my wife and she took it, he came back and looked at me for a tip. I told him no, and he then gave me a death stare that went on for about a minute. Direct eye contact too. Eventually he took the rose back from my wife. Besides this, this area is beautiful and you can enjoy the sites and relax for the most part. Just beware of the rose men!

Mike F.

This is a very chill and laid back piazza that doesn't see the mass overload of tourists that say, Piazza Navona, sees. It is literally a 2 minute walk from the Flaminio train station. The main distinguishing feature of the Piazza del Popolo is the twin churches (Santa Maria in Montesanto (built 1662-75) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (built 1675-79) that sit side by side at one side of the Plaza. Unfortunately, the Santa Maria dei Miracoli was undergoing renovations or touch up while we were there. It was still impressive to see regardless. They also have a fountain of Neptune on one end of the piazza in addition to an Egyptian obelisk in the center, in addition to other beautiful sculptures. There were people just hanging out, eating gelato, blowing bubbles, and just generally hanging out. It was a very laid back atmosphere. It was a great place to kick back for a little bit and just take everything in. FYI, this area just outside the Arch has a lot of great and affordable food options nearby. It's not nearly as touristy as other areas around the city, so check it out! 4 stars.

Kanchan B.

The main reason was at this Piazza, was because it was the our tour company's departure point, so to be honest, I only got to spend around 10 mins in this Piazza, before we were herded onto our buses in the next street, near the Villa Borghese gardens. However our guide explained that the reason they chose this location as the tour's meeting point is because this Piazza was the first experience of Rome for a traveler prior to the mid-19th century (aka before railroads). Another significant thing about this Piazza is that it has an ORIGINAL Egyptian obelisk!! Apparently there are like 8 real Egyptian obelisks in Rome, but then there are another 5 that are fake. The piazza is a pedestrian zone, and so its easy to walk around the area, without having to dodge cars and traffic. The gorgeous sculptures of the lion fountains have a terrible beauty and it was a bit sad (disrespectful?) to see some tourists climbing onto the lions and taking photos. There's also actually another fountain towards one end of the square, and that's more your traditional, classical, Roman mythical imagery. The fountain here is in the shape a sea-shell and equally stunning, while being very different to the lion fountains. If you are in the area, definitely recommend coming and checking this Piazza out. Yelp 276/ 2018

John L.

Ron Howard's 2009 adaptation of Dan Brown's Angels and Demons novel was a big factor when we were preparing for our trip. To follow the Path of Illumination, we had to make our way to Piazza del Popolo, one of the larger squares in Rome. We arrived at the piazza via Metro and as soon as we exited the Flaminio station, I saw a bit of excitement from our two daughters. It was not the sight of the square that made them smile; it was the Burger King sign right across Via Flaminia. They totally dig Italian cuisine, but seeing something familiar was a welcome change. We entered Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) through Porta del Popolo, a section of the Aurelian Walls which were built back in the day to enclose the seven hills of Rome and nearby districts. We passed by a similar entrance when we visited the Basilica di San Giovanni so this was the second time we encountered these ancient city walls. The piazza was huge with an Egyptian obelisk standing tall in the center of the square. We did not see the fountains surrounding it because construction fences (again!) prevented us from doing so. Right past the obelisk were the beautiful twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. They built these two churches next to each other because they were meant to be part of the passageway to Via del Corso which was an important street in old Rome. Although they are remarkably similar, differences in the exterior and floor plan can be spotted. Northeast of the obelisk is another church, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo, which was the one featured in the book. It contains Raphael's Chigi Chapel, the first Altar of Science representing "Earth." As always, the cobblestones were magnificent and added plenty of appeal to the piazza. Standing behind the obelisk and facing the twin churches, a very charming view of Via del Corso and these cobblestones can be seen. As a bonus, straight down that road is a glimpse of the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emmanuelle II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II). People-watching seemed to be the common theme, but there were street performers and vendors in the piazza as well. It was a nice place for a stroll since it was not as crowded as the others that we've been to. Entrance to the churches is free and several shops are nearby. Plenty to see and do this part of Rome...

CR J.

The least trafficked Piazza visited. Some street performers. Lots of sellers trying to pawn off their overpriced flashy toys on tourist children. Definitely not a stop you need to bookmark while in Rome. While roaming around Rome (no pun intended), we stumbled upon this little piazza which was refreshing due to low traffic and a breathable open square. Close to the River Tiber! Was clean and nice to sit by the fountain. Nothing big or that interesting to see while here otherwise.

William W.

The People's Square (Piazza del Popolo) is anchored by an obelisk carved in 1250 BC, the second oldest and second tallest in Rome! You're within walking distance of countless restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and shopping!!! This is one of the few squares not completely overrun with tourists and it features a quiet little fountain. A truly relaxing place in a busy city. Most fascinating was the fact that public executions were held here until the 1800s! The place abounds with history! Unfortunately, there are still vendors here shoving flowers in your face in an attempt to make money, which happens everywhere in Rome. But there seem to be fewer of them here, at least.