The name today means “Square of the People”, but some believe it actually derives from the Latin word pioppo (poplar tree), as it is thought that a small forest once stood here. The square is located at the point where three famous streets begin: Via del Corso, the well-known shopping street; Via del Babuino, which leads to Piazza di Spagna; and Via Ripetta, which runs southward toward the Tiber River.

At the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk, brought to Rome in the 1st century BC but only placed here in the 16th century during the redevelopment of the area. The spacious piazza has become a meeting place for both young people and tourists. On its southern side are two Baroque churches, similar in appearance, each housing impressive works of art.