the Piazza di Spagna (p. 183). Thence it stretches N. to the Piazza
del Popolo, W. to the Corso Umberto Primo (p. 227), and E. over
the Quirinal to the railway-station. — Our description starts from
the Piazza del Popolo, at the W. base of the Pincio.
a. Piazza del Popolo. Monte. Pincio. Piazza di Spagna.
The N. entrance to Rome is formed by the Porta del Popola
(Pl. I, 13), through which, before the construction of the railroad,
most visitors approched the Eternal City. It lies at the beginning
of the Via Flaminia (p. 429), which connects Rome with Tuscany.
The gate was constructed in 1562 by Vignola on the site of the
Porta Flaminia of Aurelian's wall (p. 177), while the side towards
the town was added by Bernini in 1655, on the occasion of the entry
of Queen Christina of Sweden (p. 416). In 1878 it was enlarged by
the addition of two side-portals. The gate is named after the ad-
joining. church of Santa Maria del Popolo. — Outside the gate, on
the right, is the Villa Borghese (Villa Umberto Primo), see p. 218.
Within the gate lies the handsome Piazza Del Popolo (Pl. I,
13, 16), adorned with an Obelisk between four water-spouting lions,
which was erected by Augustus in 10 B.C. in the Circus Maximus
to commemorate the subjugation of Egypt, and dedicated to the,
Sun. The hieroglyphic inscription mentions the names of Meren-
ptah I. and Ramses III. ( 13-12th cent. B.C.). The obelisk was re-
moved to its present position by order of Sixtus V. in 1589. The
shaft is 78 ft. in height, and the whole monument with the pedestal
and cross 118, ft. — On the W. and E. the Piazza is bounded by
curved walls with groups. of Neptune and Tritons, and of Roma
between the Tiber and the Anio. The Via Ferdinando di Savoia,
behind the W. wall, leads. across the. Ponte Margherita. (Pl. I, 14),
to the Prati di Castello (p. 359) and the Vatican (tramways Nos. 14,
16; pp. 3, 4 in the Appendix). Behind the E. wall are approaches.
ascending to the Pincio (p. 181).
Santa Maria del Popolo (Pl. I., 16), said to have been
founded by Pope Paschalis II. in 1099 on the site of the tombs of
the Domitii, the burial-Place of Nero, which was haunted by evil
spirits, was entirely re-erected under Sixtus IV. in 1472-77. The
church gives title to a cardinal. The interior, decorated in 1655
by Bernini in the baroque style, consists of nave, aisles, transept,
and octagonal dome, and contains handsome monuments of the
15th cent. (comp. p. lxvii) and other works of art. The sacristan
shows the choir and chapels; fee ½ fr.; best light in the morning.
Right Aisle. The 1st Chapel, formerly della Rovere, now
Venuti, was painted in 1485-89 by Pinturicchio:Altar-piece,
Adoration of the Infant Christ; in the lunettes, life of St. Jerome.
On the left, the tomb of Cardinal Cristof. della Rovere (d. 1477),