This street's name comes from the Pope Julius II. Bramante opened up this road at the same time as Via della Lungara was created on the opposite bank of the Tiber.

The pope's idea was to create a ring of roads comprising Via della Lungara, Ponte Sisto, Via Giulia and, to complete the ring, another bridge in front of the Ospedale Santo Spirito. This bridge was never built. According to this plan, the most important buildings of the Papal State would be concentrated along this axis.