Piazza del Popolo

An elegant oval piazza laid out in 1811 by Giuseppe Valadier, marking the historic northern entrance to Rome where pilgrims arrived along the Via Flaminia. The 3,300-year-old Egyptian Flaminio obelisk at its centre was brought here by Augustus in 10 BC; the twin Baroque churches of Santa Maria di Monte Santo and dei Miracoli flank the southern exit. Climb the ramps to the Pincio terrace above for one of Rome's best free panoramas — particularly at sunset.