road street rome italy roughly metres length connects western bank road constructed primary access route square addition shops bordered number historical religious buildings including churches despite major rome able cope high volume traffic congestion subject roman community historical scholars circumstances constructed area church rebuilt times following sacks rome having deteriorated loss prosperity resulting relocation 14th century area short courtyard remained maze densely packed structures narrow streets previous plans plans drawn times years construction major link centre rome number submissions increasing dramatically onset design submitted reign pope formed perennial designs proposed area envisioned open plan consisting single shaped boulevard widest tapering approached scheme designs submitted architects closed plan consist roads square opposite ends proponents closed plan usually suggest space separated row inhabited structures designs approved architects employed themes submitted time time proponents open plan included architects number architects pope favoured closed design number streets central square maintaining spine structures directly square approach moved sketches open closed designs considered vatican ultimately discarded reasons expense thorough examination costs constructing vatican approved conclusion cardinals proposal demolish buildings greater longer church high costs property interests momentum lost commissioned redesign terrace sketches settled open space shape potential expense clearing decided instead use warren poorly maintained medieval buildings obscure view vatican structures significant distance way pilgrims emerged relative darkness city vast open space square surrounding buildings sight calculated inspire awe time visitors holy seat power originally planned demolish square roughly directly square filling space match standing today afford longer point allow visitors better viewing angle new death patron pope alexander vii halt work set columns abandoned remained open ended incomplete final major reconstruction 15th century site covers remained occupied residential religious historical buildings nearly years final impetus road construction primarily political rest outside vatican taken italian unification 19th century leading pope declaration prisoner vatican formation roman question years refused leave vatican order avoid appearance accepting authority italian government rome initially parts italian government welcomed expecting influence fade point political support gained abolish altogether failed come pass eventually compromise acceptable states reached treaty rome prime minister signed accord behalf king resurrected idea grand symbolically connecting vatican heart italian capital vision turned prominent fascist architects drawing inspiration number designs submitted came plan preserve best aspects open closed designs grand boulevard nonetheless obscure majority vatican buildings intentions vast street require clearance placed castle buildings lining space align perfectly order create illusion perfectly straight causeway traffic islands erected sides rows leading square doubling intended reduce effect funnel shaped design perspective facing wings buildings closest square preserved form blocking greater portion approaching visitors framing square head grand open space allow easy access construction demolition began symbolic strike building october continued months time demolition proved controversial residents displaced settlements outside city buildings dismantled totally rebuilt position house palaces demolished buildings like palace churches san destroyed facing cleared area historical buildings church mutilated construction road small feature reconstruction rome ordered ranged restoration clearance vastly complicated site rome ancient imperial remains plan transform rome monument italian years rome appear peoples world vast orderly powerful time empire construction road continued long death abolition italian road installed time jubilee today completion road acted primary access point extension times funeral pope acted extension square allowing greater number visitors attend functions conducted
Via della Conciliazione