While its name translates to the People’s Square in modern Italian, it was in fact adapted from the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, found in the northeast corner of the plaza. Situated by the north gate of the Aurelian Walls, the Piazza del Popolo was the first sight that greeted travelers who came to Rome in the olden days. Do not be fooled by the square’s open and inviting atmosphere, for it was once the site of public executions. A plaque can be found remembering two patriots who met their maker here in 1825 “by order of the Pope, without evidence nor defence”. The government ordered for the text to be plastered up as a sign of goodwill to the Vatican but a few years later, while restorations were ongoing, the words resurfaced and were left untouched to demonstrate the will of the people. Undoubtedly, the People’s Square is a testament of the nation’s determination and remains to this day a significant landmark of Rome.