Piazza del Popolo

The Piazza del Popolo is a large public square in Rome, Italy. It is located at the northern end of the Via del Corso, near the Piazza Venezia. The square is bounded by the Pincian Hill to the north, the Villa Medici to the west and the church of Santa Maria del Popolo to the south. The name of the square probably derives from the poplar trees that were once in the area. The first reference to the Piazza del Popolo was in the 10th century, when it was known as the Piazza dei Popoli. In the 18th century, the area was redesigned by architect Francesco de Sanctis.