Piazza della Rotonda in Rome

Piazza della Rotonda

The Piazza della Rotonda, known in French as Place de la Rotonde, is more commonly referred to as the Place du Panthéon. Its name derives from “la Rotonna”, a popular Roman term for the Pantheon that dominates the southern side of the square.

The Fountain and the Obelisk

At the center of the square, a Renaissance fountain was designed around 1575 by Giacomo della Porta. Altered in the 18th century by Filippo Barigioni, it is topped with a small obelisk from the time of Ramses II, rediscovered in the 14th century on the nearby Piazza San Macuto. In antiquity, the Romans had placed it along with three others in front of the Temple of Isis.
The steps surrounding the fountain provide a comfortable space to sit and appreciate the calm of this charming location.

From the Old Market to the Current Square

The Pantheon

Until 1847, the square hosted a lively fish and vegetable market. A plaque, visible on the building opposite the Pantheon, recalls the many papal bans issued in the 18th century against taverns and brothels, described as “ignobili taverne”, in order to preserve public morality.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the square was enlarged by demolishing a few buildings, and under the pontificate of Pius VII, it was paved with the typical sanpietrini, those small basalt blocks characteristic of Roman streets, and the old market stalls were dismantled.

Today, the Piazza della Rotonda is surrounded by historic buildings mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries, housing cafés, restaurants, and shops. There are also hotels, such as the Antico Albergo del Sole, founded in the 15th century.

One can also notice a beautiful and large Madonella, an 18th-century fresco of the Immaculate Mary, adorning a façade. In the background, there is an inscription from the Song of Songs: “You are all beautiful, my love, and there is no flaw in you.”

Map and address

On the Piazza Rotonda

• Pantheon of Rome
  The Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Rome, is an essential stop to understand Roman history.Designed as a temple dedicated to the Roman ...
• Piazza della Rotonda in Rome
  The Piazza della Rotonda, known in French as Place de la Rotonde, is more commonly referred to as the Place du Panthéon. Its name derives ...

Ancient views in art

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