The Rome IndexPiazza del Popolo
The northern gateway to Rome — an oval piazza, twin churches, and a hilltop terrace above.
The piazza
One of Rome's largest and most elegant squares, anchored by an Egyptian obelisk and flanked by twin Baroque churches that appear identical but aren't — spot the differences in their domes.
Santa Maria del Popolo
A church on the piazza's edge with two Caravaggio paintings inside the Cerasi Chapel, easy to overlook and rarely crowded even at peak season.
The terrace above
A short climb through the Pincian Hill gardens reaches a terrace with one of the best views over the piazza and the city beyond — free, and quieter than the Gianicolo.