View allAll Photos Tagged Carracci,
Original 30” x 20” poster for the ‘Son of Stiff’ tour 1989 with Tenpole Tudor, The Equators, Any Trouble, Dirty Looks and Joe King Carracci and The Crowns
Birthdays for 3 November...
Annibale Carracci, Bolognese Baroque painter
Karl Baedeker, German guide book publisher
Emīls Dārzinš, Latvian composer
Pen: TWSBI Vac 700R
Watercolor: Field Artist
Sketchbook: Stillman & Birn
#ColorsEludeMe
York City Art Gallery - Portrait of Monsignor Agucchi by Annibale Carracci and Parmagioni (spelling to be checked)
Agostino CARRACCI (d'après) (1557 - 1602)
Saint Jérôme (vers 1600)
Huile sur Cuivre
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CES PHOTOS NE SONT PAS À VENDRE ET NE PEUVENT PAS ÊTRE REPRODUITES, MODIFIÉES, REDIFFUSÉES, EXPLOITÉES COMMERCIALEMENT OU RÉUTILISÉES DE QUELQUE MANIÈRE QUE CE SOIT.
UNIQUEMENT POUR LE PLAISIR DES YEUX
From the museum label: Known as 'The Montalto Madonna' after its patron, Cardinal Alessandro Peretti Montalto, this small painting on copper was one of Carracci's most famous and most copied works. The influence of Correggio is evident in the rich balance of colour, the play of light and the figures' harmonious movements.
The betrayal of Christ, Ca.1695.
Judas betrays Christ to the waiting soldiers by identifying him with a kiss in the darkness of the Mount of Olives. The dramatic nocturnal scene, dating from c.1695–1700, ultimately derives from a painting by Ludovico Carracci of c.1589–1590 that made an impact on Bolognese artists, including Guercino.
The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
On Nov. 3, 1560, Bolognese painter Annibale Carracci was born. He was one of the leaders in the Baroque style.
#ColorEludesMe #RussPetcoff #historyalive #sketching #Lamy #Arteza #StillmanAndBirn #watercolor
Portrait of the musician Orazio Bassani (ca. 1550-1615) ?
it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agostino_Carracci
www.facebook.com/114575715060/posts/pfbid02LwdaKNKdkV1tXg...
Piacenza.
Sant'Antonio.
11thC basilica with origins in the 4th. Interior was modified in the 16th to 18th centuries.
There are frescoes by Camillo Gavasetti in the presbytery.
Wiki writes - "Camillo Gavasetti (1596 – in or after 1630) was a native of Modena, who flourished about the year 1626. He studied under his father, Stefano Gavasetti, a miniature painter and gilder, but he rather followed the Carracci. His principal works are at Piacenza, where he is better known than at Parma or Modena. He was engaged with Piarini in painting Scriptural subjects. At the presbytery of the Church of Sant'Antonino at Piacenza, is a fresco representing a subject from the Apocalypse, which was esteemed by Guercino the finest work of art in that city. He died young in 1628."
Piazza del Popolo is a famous square in Rome, Italy. The descriptions that follow rely heavily on Rick Steves' Rome (where his "La Dolce Vita" stroll starts) and Wikipedia.
We'll start with location. Piazza del Popolo is located just inside the Porta del Popolo (formerly Porta Flaminia). This was the northern entrance into medieval Rome.
Sidebar (already??): Porta Flaminia...marked the end of Via Flaminia, the ancient road that connected the Adriatic (going due north over the Apennines), and then along the Adriatic coast into central Europe.
There was once a German minister from Wittenberg who walked 700 miles down here in 1510 and came right through this gate...was shocked by the corruption he found in the city (an extension of the church), and promptly decided to begin a counterreformation. His name was Martin Luther.
I'm sure a handful of others have waked through these gates over time. Rome was the equivalent of Mecca for Christians and the pilgrims primarily arrived at this gate. There are a few more tourists than pilgrims at this point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to the story of the piazza...
History:
Before getting to the 1475 facelift from Pope Sixtus IV.
The most interesting history here is centered around the church immediately to your left when you walk through the Porta del Popolo. This is Santa Maria del Popolo.
The church was originally founded/created/formed by Pope Paschal II in 1099 A.D. (What we get to look at now is a result of the Sistine restoration of the square in the 1470s; more on that to follow.)
The formation of this church has as much to do with Imperial Roman history and legend as anything.
Emperor Nero, after committing suicide, was buried in the mausoleum of his family at the foot of the Pincian Hill (guess what hill that is directly behind the east fountain?).
There was a landslide at one point, and the Domitii Ahenobarbi went down for the count. On top of it, a rather impressive walnut tree grew. The walnut tree, magnificent as it was, apparently came laden with "evil spirits." This wasn't the best thing to have as a first impression for visitors to your fine town.
So, as Wikipedia explains, "On the Thursday after the third Sunday in Lent in 1099, the Pope organized the entire clergy and populace of Rome in one impressive procession that, with the crucifix at its head, went along the urban stretch of the Via Flaminia until it reached the infested place. There, Paschal II performed the rite of exorcism and then struck the walnut tree with a determined blow to its root, causing the evil spirits to burst forth, madly screaming. When the tree was removed, the remains of Nero were discovered among the ruins; the Pope ordered these thrown into the Tiber." ...and since then, we have ourselves a church. (Church records from 1099 until the restoration seem sparse, unfortunately.)
As for the church now, it has a "who's who" of Italian art. The famous Chigi Chapel, designed by Raphael...second on the left from the entrance...emphasized humanism and was inspired by the Pantheon. The Della Rovere Chapel -- immediately to the right of the entrance -- showcases 1400s realism with Pinturicchio's Nativity with St. Jerome. The Cerasi Chapel -- left of the main altar -- highlights Baroque art with Carracci's Assumption of Mary (center) with the two real highlights being the Caravaggio's on either side: Conversion of St. Paul (1601) is on the right, and Crucifixion of St. Peter is on the left.
The sad news, for anyone visiting between September 2023 and November 2024 (like me, in November 2023), is that you won't be able to see any of this. The church interior is undergoing a restoration.
Speaking of restorations, let's take an overall look at the piazza from just inside the Porta del Popolo.
Pope Sixtus IV, realizing that this square, after centuries of decline, wasn't making a grand first impression (or even a good one, apparently), established eminent domain so the church could steal the land, clear it of unsightly buildings, and improve this piazza. Bernini had a hand in one of the subsequent upkeep efforts (namely in the design of the "twin" churches directly in front of you, but the main layout at the moment is compliments of Giuseppe Valadier who, from 1811-22, designed this in the loose image of St. Peter's Square, with its neoclassical symmetry and oval shape.
At the center of it all is the Flaminio (Popolo) Obelisk. Three sides were carved by pharoah Sety I, with the final side by Ramses II. (Ramses is considered to be one of the most powerful pharoahs in Egyptian history -- if not the most famous. He ran Egypt from 1279-11 B.C.)
In 10 B.C. Emperor Augustus had this obelisk moved over and stuck right in the middle of Circus Maximus. It was finally moved over here to Piazza del Popolo in 1589 (during the "upgrade" of Pope Sixtus V).
Focus your gaze to the two seemingly identical churches beyond the obelisk. You're looking at Santa Maria di Montesanto (1679, on the left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1681, on the right). They're small churches, due to space constrictions. They were begun by Carlo Rainaldi, but completely by Bernini and Carlo Fontana. If you look closely, these aren't perfect twins. Bernini had to make a few minor corrections to make them seem as similar as possible.
The two churches exist there as they are split by three important and ancient pilgrim routes (converging here in "the Trident/il Tridente"). From left to right, they are:
Via del Babuino (yeah, that means "baboon") opened as the Via Paulina in 1525. This one was a pilgrim's route to Santa Maria Maggiore & Saint John in Laterano, but now goes to Piazza di Spagna.
Via del Corso. This was one of ancient Rome's "main streets" and, at about 1.6 kilometers, connects the city gate here with Piazza Venezia (at the foot of Capitoline Hill near the Forum). Nowadays, it's lined with churches, the Piazza Colonna (about halfway down), and shopping. Having been planned in 220 B.C., this was basically part of Via Flaminia. This road has gone through a few name changes. "Corso" refers to its history as being a racetrack for riderless horses (corsa dei barbieri) during the Roman Carnival since the 15th century. After King Umberto I's assassination in 1900, this was changed to Corso Umberto I. In 1944, it was changed to Corso del Popolo and finally in 1946 back to...Via del Corso.
Via di Ripetta, on the right, was the road that would take you near the Vatican, after running you by the Mausoleum of Augustus on the Tiber.
Step forward towards the obelisk, and you'll see two fairly big fountains at the eastern and western edges of the piazza.
On the western (right) side, you'll see two fountains. These were created by Giovanni Ceccarini in the 1820s. On the west (right) end, you have the Fontana del Nettuno. On the east (left) end, at the base of the Pincian Hill, you have Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene. Directly above that, you can see the Terrazza del Pincio in the Villa Borghese Gardens.
That does it for descriptions. Last notes...if you want to enjoy Santa Maria del Popolo (after it reopens) in relative solitude, try coming before 8:00 a.m. More fun, though, is to do what the locals do: the passeggiata is a nightly occurrence. Locals come here to take their stroll, to see, and be seen. It's a good spot for night life, and this is a great starting point. Split the churches, walk down Via del Corso, and enjoy "La dolce vita," as Rick Steves would say.
Harewood House.
olognese School
Portrait of a Gentleman
16th Century
Oil on Canvas
Dimensions with frame 135.5 x 111.0 x 6.0 cm
A half-length portrait depicting an unknown gentleman in black tunic with a white collar and cuffs. The sitter holds a gardeners knife in his right hand, and some cut flowers in his left. An orange tree can be seen growing in the background, in addition to a sunset landscape.
The artist of this portrait has been much debated. In 1918, when the work was purchased by Henry, Viscount Lascelles, it was considered to be a self-portrait by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609), though later attributions suggested it may have been Carracci's teacher, Passarotti, known for his paintings of tradesmen. More recently, it has been suggested that the portrait shows similarities with the work of Guillaume Courtois. Its style, though, suggests an earlier date.
On Display
Gallery
HHTP:2001.1.19
Is this Easter ??
For me, it's getting closer.
This is from a library book, and is by Annibale Carracci from way back in the 1500's.
Much harder to find than I expected - I spent well over an hour tring to get a set of Easter subjects; and came up short, and dissapointed.
2023_12_25 The Basilica of San Petronio Bologna Emilia-Romagna Italy
The Basilica of San Petronio is a minor basilica and church of the Archdiocese of Bologna located in Bologna, Emilia Romagna, northern Italy. It dominates Piazza Maggiore. The basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Petronius, who was the bishop of Bologna in the fifth century. Construction began in 1390 and its main facade has remained unfinished since. The building was transferred from the city to the diocese in 1929; the basilica was finally consecrated in 1954. It has been the seat of the relics of Bologna's patron saint only since 2000; until then they were preserved in the Santo Stefano church of Bologna.
History
Construction
The Porta Magna with sculpture by Jacopo della Quercia
In 1388, the Consiglio Generale dei Seicento prepared the construction of the church as a civic temple.[1] To make room for the church, the adjacent Curia of Sancti Ambrosii was demolished, together with the majority of one of the city's burgs, including at least eight churches and towers. The first stone of construction was laid on 7 June 1390 under the supervision of architect Antonio di Vincenzo.
Works lasted for several centuries: after the completion of the first version of the facade, in 1393 the first pair of side chapels were begun. The series were completed only in 1479.
The third bay was built in 1441–1446. Its construction was delayed by the cardinal Baldassarre Cossa, who sold the construction material of the basilica and kept the money.
San Petronio Basilica and Piazza Maggiore.
In 1514, Arduino degli Arriguzzi was chosen as the architect to construct the dome. His proposal included a large dome resting upon the width between the side aisles, which necessitated larger transepts and apses. The project was considered too complicated, and after building the first two pillars and two triangular pylons for the dome, the work was halted. According to legend, Pope Pius IV halted the "megalomaniac dream" and instead encouraged the construction of the Archiginnasio of Bologna.
Cassini's Meridian Line
The winter solstice end of the meridian line
The church hosts also a marking in the form of a meridian line inlaid in the paving of the left aisle in 1655; it was calculated and designed by the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who was teaching astronomy at the University. A meridian line does not indicate the time: instead, with its length of 66.8 metres (219 ft) it is one of the largest astronomical instruments in the world, allowing measurements that were for the time uniquely precise. The sun light, entering through a 27.07 mm (1.066 in) hole placed at a 27.07 m (88.8 ft) height in the church wall, projects an elliptical image of the sun, which at local noon falls exactly on the meridian line and every day is different as to position and size. The position of the projected image along the line allows to determine accurately the daily altitude of the sun at noon, from which Cassini was able to calculate with unprecedented precision astronomical parameters such as the obliquity of the ecliptic, the duration of the tropical year and the timing of equinoxes and solstices. On the other hand, the size of the projected sun's image, and in particular its rate of variation during the year, allowed Cassini the first experimental verification of Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
Cassini and Domenico Guglielmini published an illustrated account of how the meridian line was accomplished in 1695.
Terror threat
Late Gothic fresco in San Petronio Basilica, depicting Mohammed being tortured in Hell.
In 2002 five men were arrested on suspicions of planning to blow up the basilica. The men were allegedly connected to Al Qaeda. Again in 2006, plans by Islamist terrorists to destroy the Basilica were thwarted by Italian police. The terrorists planned to destroy the church because one of the chapels features a 15th-century fresco that is insulting to Islam. The fresco, painted by Giovanni da Modena and based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, depicts Muhammad in the eighth circle of Hell, in a section reserved for religious schismatics, being tortured and devoured by demons.
2023_12_25 Bologna Emilia-Romagna Italy
Bologna is a city in and the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy, of which it is also its largest. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its metropolitan area is home to more than 1,000,000 people. It is known as the Fat City for its rich cuisine, and the Red City for its red tiled rooftops and, more recently, its leftist politics. It is also called the Learned City because it is home to the oldest university in the world.
Originally Etruscan, the city has been an important urban center for centuries, first under the Etruscans (who called it Felsina), then under the Celts as Bona, later under the Romans (BonÅnia), then again in the Middle Ages, as a free municipality and later signoria, when it was among the largest European cities by population. Famous for its towers, churches and lengthy porticoes, Bologna has a well-preserved historical center, thanks to a careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the 1970s. Home to the oldest university in continuous operation, the University of Bologna, established in AD 1088, the city has a large student population that gives it a cosmopolitan character. In 2000, it was declared European capital of culture and in 2006, a UNESCO "City of Music" and became part of the Creative Cities Network. In 2021, UNESCO recognized the lengthy porticoes of the city as a World Heritage Site.
Bologna is an important agricultural, industrial, financial and transport hub, where many large mechanical, electronic and food companies have their headquarters as well as one of the largest permanent trade fairs in Europe. According to recent data gathered by the European Regional Economic Growth Index (E-REGI) of 2009, Bologna is the first Italian city and the 47th European city in terms of its economic growth rate; in 2022, Il Sole 24 Ore named Bologna the best city in Italy for overall quality of life.
History
History
Antiquity and Middle Ages
Traces of human habitation in the area of ââBologna go back to the 3rd millennium BCE, with significant settlements from about the 9th century BCE (Villanovan culture). The influence of Etruscan civilization reached the area in the 7th to 6th centuries, and the Etruscan city of Felsina was established at the site of Bologna by the end of the 6th century. By the 4th century BCE, the site was occupied by the Gaulish Boii, and it became a Roman colony and municipium with the name of BonÅnia in 196 BCE. During the declining years of the Western Roman Empire Bologna was repeatedly sacked by the Goths. It is in this period that legendary Bishop Petronius, according to ancient chronicles, rebuilt the ruined town and founded the basilica of Saint Stephen. Petronius is still revered as the patron saint of Bologna.
In 727â28, the city was sacked and captured by the Lombards under King Liutprand, becoming part of that kingdom. These Germanic conquerors built an important new quarter, called "addizione longobarda" (Italian meaning "Longobard addition") near the complex of St. Stephen. In the last quarter of the 8th century, Charlemagne, at the request of Pope Adrian I, invaded the Lombard Kingdom, causing its eventual demise. Occupied by Frankish troops in 774 on behalf of the papacy, Bologna remained under imperial authority and prospered as a frontier mark of the Carolingian empire.
Bologna was the center of a revived study of law, including the scholar Irnerius c 1050 â after 1125) and his famous students, the Four Doctors of Bologna.
After the death of Matilda of Tuscany in 1115, Bologna obtained substantial concessions from Emperor Henry V. However, when Frederick Barbarossa subsequently attempted to strike down the deal, Bologna joined the Lombard League, which then defeated the imperial armies at the Battle of Legnano and established an effective autonomy at the Peace of Constance in 1183. Subsequently, the town began to expand rapidly and became one of the main commercial trade centers of northern Italy thanks to a system of canals that allowed barges and ships to come and go. Believed to have been established in 1088, the University of Bologna is widely considered the world's oldest university in continuous operation. The university originated as a center for the study of medieval Roman law under major glossators, including Irnerius. It numbered Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch among its students.The medical school was especially renowned. By 1200, Bologna was a thriving commercial and artisanal center of about 10,000 people.
During a campaign to support the imperial cities of Modena and Cremona against Bologna, Frederick II's son, King Enzo of Sardinia, was defeated and captured on 26 May 1249 at the Battle of Fossalta. Though the emperor demanded his release, Enzo was thenceforth kept a knightly prisoner in Bologna, in a palace that came to be named Palazzo Re Enzo after him. Every attempt to escape or to rescue him failed, and he died after more than 22 years in captivity. After the death of his half-brothers Conrad IV in 1254, Frederick of Antioch in 1256 and Manfred in 1266, as well as the execution of his nephew Conradin in 1268, he was the last of the Hohenstaufen heirs.
During the late 1200s, Bologna was affected by political instability when the most prominent families incessantly fought for the control of the town. The free commune was severely weakened by decades of infighting, allowing the Pope to impose the rule of his envoy Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget in 1327. Du Pouget was eventually ousted by a popular rebellion and Bologna became a signoria under Taddeo Pepoli in 1334. By the arrival of the Black Death in 1348, Bologna had 40,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, reduced to just 20,000 to 25,000 after the plague.
Early modern
The period of Papal rule over Bologna (1506â1796) has been generally evaluated by historians as one of severe decline. However, this was not evident in the 1500s, which were marked by some major developments in Bologna. In 1530, Emperor Charles V was crowned in Bologna, the last of the Holy Roman Emperors to be crowned by the pope. In 1564, the Piazza del Nettuno and the Palazzo dei Banchi were built, along with the Archiginnasio, the main building of the university. The period of Papal rule also saw the construction of many churches and other religious establishments, and the restoration of older ones. At this time, Bologna had ninety-six convents, more than any other Italian city. Painters working in Bologna during this period established the Bolognese School which includes Annibale Carracci, Domenichino, Guercino, and others of European fame.
The period of Papal rule over Bologna (1506â1796) has been generally evaluated by historians as one of severe decline. However, this was not evident in the 1500s, which were marked by some major developments in Bologna. In 1530, Emperor Charles V was crowned in Bologna, the last of the Holy Roman Emperors to be crowned by the pope. In 1564, the Piazza del Nettuno and the Palazzo dei Banchi were built, along with the Archiginnasio, the main building of the university. The period of Papal rule also saw the construction of many churches and other religious establishments, and the restoration of older ones. At this time, Bologna had ninety-six convents, more than any other Italian city. Painters working in Bologna during this period established the Bolognese School which includes Annibale Carracci, Domenichino, Guercino, and others of European fame.
It was only towards the end of the 16th century that severe signs of decline began to manifest. A series of plagues in the late 16th to early 17th century reduced the population of the city from some 72,000 in the mid-16th century to about 47,000 by 1630. During the 1629â1631 Italian plague alone, Bologna lost up to a third of its population. In the mid-17th century, the population stabilized at roughly 60,000, slowly increasing to some 70,000 by the mid-18th century. The economy of Bologna started to show signs of severe decline as the global centers of trade shifted towards the Atlantic. The traditional silk industry was in a critical state. The university was losing students, who once came from all over Europe, because of the illiberal attitudes of the Church towards culture (especially after the trial of Galileo). Bologna continued to suffer a progressive deindustrialization also in the 18th century.
In the mid-1700s, Pope Benedict XIV, a Bolognese, tried to reverse the decline of the city with a series of reforms intended to stimulate the economy and promote the arts. However, these reforms achieved only mixed results. The pope's efforts to stimulate the decaying textile industry had little success, while he was more successful in reforming the tax system, liberalizing trade and relaxing the oppressive system of censorship.
The economic and demographic decline of Bologna became even more noticeable starting in the second half of the 18th century. In 1790, the city had 72,000 inhabitants, ranking as the second largest in the Papal States; however, this figure had remained unchanged for decades.
During this period, Papal economic policies included heavy customs duties and concessions of monopolies to single manufacturers.
Domenico Zampieri, known as Domenichino for his shortness (October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese or Carracci School of painters.
Piazza del Popolo is a famous square in Rome, Italy. The descriptions that follow rely heavily on Rick Steves' Rome (where his "La Dolce Vita" stroll starts) and Wikipedia.
We'll start with location. Piazza del Popolo is located just inside the Porta del Popolo (formerly Porta Flaminia). This was the northern entrance into medieval Rome.
Sidebar (already??): Porta Flaminia...marked the end of Via Flaminia, the ancient road that connected the Adriatic (going due north over the Apennines), and then along the Adriatic coast into central Europe.
There was once a German minister from Wittenberg who walked 700 miles down here in 1510 and came right through this gate...was shocked by the corruption he found in the city (an extension of the church), and promptly decided to begin a counterreformation. His name was Martin Luther.
I'm sure a handful of others have waked through these gates over time. Rome was the equivalent of Mecca for Christians and the pilgrims primarily arrived at this gate. There are a few more tourists than pilgrims at this point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to the story of the piazza...
History:
Before getting to the 1475 facelift from Pope Sixtus IV.
The most interesting history here is centered around the church immediately to your left when you walk through the Porta del Popolo. This is Santa Maria del Popolo.
The church was originally founded/created/formed by Pope Paschal II in 1099 A.D. (What we get to look at now is a result of the Sistine restoration of the square in the 1470s; more on that to follow.)
The formation of this church has as much to do with Imperial Roman history and legend as anything.
Emperor Nero, after committing suicide, was buried in the mausoleum of his family at the foot of the Pincian Hill (guess what hill that is directly behind the east fountain?).
There was a landslide at one point, and the Domitii Ahenobarbi went down for the count. On top of it, a rather impressive walnut tree grew. The walnut tree, magnificent as it was, apparently came laden with "evil spirits." This wasn't the best thing to have as a first impression for visitors to your fine town.
So, as Wikipedia explains, "On the Thursday after the third Sunday in Lent in 1099, the Pope organized the entire clergy and populace of Rome in one impressive procession that, with the crucifix at its head, went along the urban stretch of the Via Flaminia until it reached the infested place. There, Paschal II performed the rite of exorcism and then struck the walnut tree with a determined blow to its root, causing the evil spirits to burst forth, madly screaming. When the tree was removed, the remains of Nero were discovered among the ruins; the Pope ordered these thrown into the Tiber." ...and since then, we have ourselves a church. (Church records from 1099 until the restoration seem sparse, unfortunately.)
As for the church now, it has a "who's who" of Italian art. The famous Chigi Chapel, designed by Raphael...second on the left from the entrance...emphasized humanism and was inspired by the Pantheon. The Della Rovere Chapel -- immediately to the right of the entrance -- showcases 1400s realism with Pinturicchio's Nativity with St. Jerome. The Cerasi Chapel -- left of the main altar -- highlights Baroque art with Carracci's Assumption of Mary (center) with the two real highlights being the Caravaggio's on either side: Conversion of St. Paul (1601) is on the right, and Crucifixion of St. Peter is on the left.
The sad news, for anyone visiting between September 2023 and November 2024 (like me, in November 2023), is that you won't be able to see any of this. The church interior is undergoing a restoration.
Speaking of restorations, let's take an overall look at the piazza from just inside the Porta del Popolo.
Pope Sixtus IV, realizing that this square, after centuries of decline, wasn't making a grand first impression (or even a good one, apparently), established eminent domain so the church could steal the land, clear it of unsightly buildings, and improve this piazza. Bernini had a hand in one of the subsequent upkeep efforts (namely in the design of the "twin" churches directly in front of you, but the main layout at the moment is compliments of Giuseppe Valadier who, from 1811-22, designed this in the loose image of St. Peter's Square, with its neoclassical symmetry and oval shape.
At the center of it all is the Flaminio (Popolo) Obelisk. Three sides were carved by pharoah Sety I, with the final side by Ramses II. (Ramses is considered to be one of the most powerful pharoahs in Egyptian history -- if not the most famous. He ran Egypt from 1279-11 B.C.)
In 10 B.C. Emperor Augustus had this obelisk moved over and stuck right in the middle of Circus Maximus. It was finally moved over here to Piazza del Popolo in 1589 (during the "upgrade" of Pope Sixtus V).
Focus your gaze to the two seemingly identical churches beyond the obelisk. You're looking at Santa Maria di Montesanto (1679, on the left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1681, on the right). They're small churches, due to space constrictions. They were begun by Carlo Rainaldi, but completely by Bernini and Carlo Fontana. If you look closely, these aren't perfect twins. Bernini had to make a few minor corrections to make them seem as similar as possible.
The two churches exist there as they are split by three important and ancient pilgrim routes (converging here in "the Trident/il Tridente"). From left to right, they are:
Via del Babuino (yeah, that means "baboon") opened as the Via Paulina in 1525. This one was a pilgrim's route to Santa Maria Maggiore & Saint John in Laterano, but now goes to Piazza di Spagna.
Via del Corso. This was one of ancient Rome's "main streets" and, at about 1.6 kilometers, connects the city gate here with Piazza Venezia (at the foot of Capitoline Hill near the Forum). Nowadays, it's lined with churches, the Piazza Colonna (about halfway down), and shopping. Having been planned in 220 B.C., this was basically part of Via Flaminia. This road has gone through a few name changes. "Corso" refers to its history as being a racetrack for riderless horses (corsa dei barbieri) during the Roman Carnival since the 15th century. After King Umberto I's assassination in 1900, this was changed to Corso Umberto I. In 1944, it was changed to Corso del Popolo and finally in 1946 back to...Via del Corso.
Via di Ripetta, on the right, was the road that would take you near the Vatican, after running you by the Mausoleum of Augustus on the Tiber.
Step forward towards the obelisk, and you'll see two fairly big fountains at the eastern and western edges of the piazza.
On the western (right) side, you'll see two fountains. These were created by Giovanni Ceccarini in the 1820s. On the west (right) end, you have the Fontana del Nettuno. On the east (left) end, at the base of the Pincian Hill, you have Rome between the Tiber and the Aniene. Directly above that, you can see the Terrazza del Pincio in the Villa Borghese Gardens.
That does it for descriptions. Last notes...if you want to enjoy Santa Maria del Popolo (after it reopens) in relative solitude, try coming before 8:00 a.m. More fun, though, is to do what the locals do: the passeggiata is a nightly occurrence. Locals come here to take their stroll, to see, and be seen. It's a good spot for night life, and this is a great starting point. Split the churches, walk down Via del Corso, and enjoy "La dolce vita," as Rick Steves would say.