Panorama of the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, the main obelisk was being restored and was covered in scaffolding at the time this picture was taken.

Piazza del Popolo - Rome visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Piazza del Popolo' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Roma.

The Piazza del Popolo in Rome is a large expanse of black cobble stones. In the middle stands a 24m high granite obelisk. 3,500 years ago this obelisk stood before the Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis during the reign of Ramses II. It was brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus erected in the centre of the Circus Maximus. In 1587 the obelisc was moved to the Piazza del Popolo under the orders of Pope Sixtus V.

The Piazza del Poplo used to be a hamlet just inside the Aurelian Walls at the end of the Via Flaminia. The name comes from 'popolus', the Italian for 'hamlet'. A number of important roads lead from this square to other parts of Rome. Visitors would arrive at rome through the Porta del Popolo, a gate within the Aurelian walls right next to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo.

The Via del Corso, originally called the via Lata, leads directly to the Roman Forum. The current name (lit Road of the Course) is the result of wild horse races took place down it, finishing at the Piazza Venezia during the last 300 years of of Papal rule. Two Barque churches, S Maria in Montesanto and S Maria Miracoli, were added to either side of where the Via del Corso enters the Piazza del Popolo in the 17C.

Via di Ripetta to the Piazza del Popolo by Leo X, providing a direct route to St. Peter's and the Vatican to aid pilgrims in their journey – though this may have been as much for his benefit as theirs so that they would get there with less risk of being robbed before buying his indulgences.

The last great road fanning out from the Piazza del Popolo is the Via del Babunio which leads to the Piazza di Spangna and the Spanish Steps. Together these 3 roads for the 'Trident of Rome'.

On either end of the Piazza are two fountains. In this image the far one is obscured by the obelisk. At the top of the Pincian Hill behind the near fountain is Piazza Napoleone, which gives a good panoramic view over Rome.