Its characteristic elongated shape derives from the ancient Stadium built by the Emperor Domitian in the 85 A.D., very popular for the agones (games) that took place here. This way, you won’t just be staring at the stunning Baroque masterpieces, but you can look at them under a new perspective and with a more expert eye. The reason behind this design is that it was built on top of the Domitian Stadium around 86 AD. Built on an ancient Roman stadium site, the piazza still holds its shape fit for chariot races. Piazza Navona was built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, wanted by the emperor himself in 86 AD. It’s located on the east bank of the Tiber River and right into the historic center of the city. The monumental square had the purpose of celebrating the greatness of the Pamphilj family. Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj – Elegant 17th-century mansion designed by Borromini with views of Piazza Navona. The Pope’s palace is one of the buildings facing the square, 7. One of the most amazing Piazza Navona facts is that the family palace of Pope Innocent X was built right on the square. One of the most amazing Piazza Navona facts is that the family palace of Pope Innocent X was built right on the square. There are other two beautiful fountains: the fountain of Neptune and the Fontana del Moro, both masterpieces of artist Jacopo Della Porta. On the other side of Piazza Navona is Corso Rinascimento through which you easily get to San Luigi dei Francesi church and the Pantheon. The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains, designed during the papacy of Gregory XIII: Origin of Piazza Navona In the 15th century, following the will of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, who became Pope with the name of Innocenzo X in 1664, the ancient stadium of Domitian was paved and Piazza Navona was created. A fantastic place for breakfast near Piazza Navona is Coromandel, while for lunch or dinner, we suggest Ginger Salute & Sapori in Piazza Sant’Eustachio near the Pantheon. It was turned into a public square in the 15th century, 5. Agones is an expression for games. The Piazza Navona Obelisk didn’t come from Egypt, 9. The name Navona is derived from this as "Agonal" changed to "in Agone" to "n'Agone" to "Navone" to "Navona". From the Colosseum, take bus 87 to Piazza Navona, from Piazza Venezia take bus 64, and from the Pyramid and Testaccio, take bus 30 (on Sunday 130F). Don’t forget to stroll around quaint alleys such as Via di Santa Maria dell’Anima, Arco della Pace where is the church of Santa Maria della Pace and its famous cloister Chiostro del Bramante that always hosts beautiful temporary exhibitions. The Bernini Fountain of the Four Rivers fountain at Piazza Navona is topped by the Obelisk of Domitian, and is a sight to see. Before the crowded Navona Square came to be, the impressive Domitian Stadium (or Circus Agonalis) stood in its place, a long concave oval-shaped arena built in 85 AD by Emperor Domitian to host competitive, non violent, sporting events and to ultimately encourage traditional Greek athletics. Some of the movies where you will see Piazza Navona are Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, The Talented Mr. Ripley starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, and La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini starring and unforgettable Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni. The square was constructed during the pontificate of Pope Innocent X between 1644 and 1655, whose real name was Giovanni Battista Pamphilj. The final destiny of the piazza however was decided by Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, who became pope in 1644 with the name Innocent X. The piazza started being a busy hub in the 15th century when the local market of fresh fruits and veggies, meat and all types of goods was set up here. It has the same shape of a stadium and has been built for want of Pope Innocent X. This palace is called the Palazzo Pamphili and was completed between 1644 and 1650. However, the construction was later taken over by Bernini in which the fountain had 4 figures that represent the 4 continents. Here, the second name of the stadium is Agons arena and Navona Square got its name thanks to this term.In the 1st century A.D. the stadium was called “Campus Agonis”, while closer to the Middle Ages this form transformed into “n’agone”. This is again emphasized by the fact that he also earned the commission to sculpt the statue of the other fountain located at the square called the “Fontana del Moro.”eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'listerious_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_23',128,'0','0'])); The original fountain was completed in 1575 but the statue of the Moor wrestling with a dolphin was added later on in the year 1653. Palazzo Navona Hotel – Elegant 4-star hotel 100 meters from Piazza Navona. Vanity Hotel Navona – Chic and spacious rooms 300 meters from Piazza Navona. The largest of which is the Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, which was constructed in 1647 and 1651 and commissioned to Borromini. Before the Piazza Navona square, there was an ancient stadium. These are the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Asia, and the Río de la Plata representing the AmericasFountain at the Piazza Navona / Pixabay. Rome – Art & Architecture – Piazza Navona . From being only the place for the daily market, Piazza Navona soon became also place for the city’s celebrations and parades. The square is a prime example of Roman Baroque architecture, 6. Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain is the biggest and most famous, but it’s not the only one worth admiring in Piazza Navona. All rights reserved. Fig. What to eat in Rome – Top Roman traditional dishes, One Day In Rome Historic Center (With Maps + Restaurants! There is still access to the remains underneath the piazza and tours are held daily. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Also on the northern end of the piazza is the famous gelateria GROM. Knowing where to eat here is a plus that can make your visit more pleasant. One of the most intriguing Piazza Navona facts is that between 1652 until 1866, the square was completely submerged during an annual festival in August, a tradition started by the Pamphilj family. Piazza Navona came back to life in the second half of the 15th century when the market that had been held until then at the foot of the Capitoline hill was moved there. This palace has been occupied by the Brazilian Embassy in Rome since 1920 and has been owned by the Brazilian government since 1960.Palazzo Pamphilj / Mariordo / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Description. Piazza Navona is widely considered Rome’s most stunning Baroque masterpiece. It hosted games for athletes. This concludes the ultimate list of interesting Piazza Navona facts, one of the most amazing Baroque squares in the world located right in the historical heart of the fascinating city of Rome! Married to Pamphilio Pamphilj from the famous Roman noble family, she lived in the Pamphilj Palace that today is the seat of the Brazilian Embassy. ), Things To Do In The Ostiense Neighborhood in Rome, Hidden gems in Rome – Explore Rome off the beaten path, Street art in Ostiense district in Rome – Where to find the best murals, La Pratolina Pizzeria in Rome’s Prati – Full Review, Sunday Morning at Coromandel for a Luxury Breakfast in Rome, Il Marchese Osteria & Cocktail Bar in Central Rome – Complete Review. The piazza is one of the most popular attractions in Rome so it’s pretty much always crowded. Bernini also sculpted one of the other 2 amazing fountains, 10. That’s because it was built on top of one of the many Ancient Roman entertainment venues that were built all across the Roman Empire, including within the borders of the city. It’s fair to conclude that Bernini was one of the most influential Baroque artists in history. The beauty of Piazza Navona relies also on the back streets all around. This is an excellent example of the type of architecture that was prevalent during the era, with travertine windows and a portal flanked by columns. By far one of our favorite pizza places in Rome, La Pratolina Pizzeria in the exclusive Prati ... Let's say you are on a short trip to Italy or on a quick city break and are spending only one day ... Coromandel is known to serve one of the best breakfasts in Rome, and even though located in the ... Top Restaurants in Five Rome Neighborhoods. Around 86 AD, a mere decade after the Colosseum had been completed, the last Flavian emperor Domitian built the square as a large racing track – the Circus Agonalis. His tomb is inside this very church together with the graves of other members of the Pamphilj family. She might be unknown to you, but she was arguably the most powerful woman in 17th-century Rome. In 1652, Pope Innocent X Pamphilj and his sister-in-law, the powerful Donna Olimpia, ruled that Piazza Navona would be filled with water in its center by closing the drainage of its three fountains. You can access the stadium from Via di Tor Sanguigna on the northern end of Piazza Navona. The design and form of the square are no accident. Piazza Navona is a good starting point for your tour. Arguably one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to stay in Rome, Piazza Navona is also one of the most desirable ones. Emperor Domitian decided to build this stadium to introduce Greek-style games to Rome, even though Romans didn’t like them as they found them immoral and preferred the gory shows of the Colosseum. For around two centuries, this was the main draw for Roman citizens of all walks of life every Saturday and Sunday of August until Pope Pius IX decided to put a halt to it in 1866. During his time as pope from 1644 to 1655, Innocent X transformed this market space into one of the leading examples of Baroque Roman architecture, employing the skills of Borromini and Bernini. His family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced the piazza. Originally built in the 16th century, this palace can be found south of Piazza Navona. Later it was transformed into avone and eventually to actual name: Navona. That’s why it was for a long time believed this was an original Egyptian Obelisk until it was discovered that the text is glorifying Domitian and one of his achievements, This massive structure stood on the site of the Circus of Maxentius for multiple centuries before it was moved in 4 pieces to the square to become part of its decorations.Obelisk on the square / HSwaff / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the square came back to life in the second half of the fifteenth century as one of the main open-air markets in the city; the remains of the battered stadium were paved over to create Piazza Navona. It’s located in the historic center of Rome, 2. Like movie directors. One of the unmissable landmarks in Rome whether it’s your first trip or not, knowing some Piazza Navona facts makes it even more interesting to visit. Piazza Navona is built on an ancient athlete arena. Walking down a golden Roman alley in the evening, the sound of water, of music, of laughter fills your ears. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. Particularly Roman Jews deplored the closing of Piazza Navona, since they were allowed to sell used articles of clothing there at the Wednesday market. If you want to enjoy it quietly or snap some good pictures without the crowds of tourists, your best bet is to go as early as you can in the morning. One of the most amazing squares in the world can be found in the wonderful city of Rome, and in this post, you’ll discover the ultimate list of interesting Piazza Navona facts! Lastly, the name of the place was simplified to “na… One of the most prominent features of the square is the so-called “Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi,” which translates to the “Fountain of the 4 Rivers.”eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'listerious_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',126,'0','0'])); The fountain was designed by the architect of St. Peter’s Square, the famous Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and was completed in 1651. The Fountain of the Four Rivers is the main and central masterpiece in Piazza Navona. The most famous sites in the area are the Roman Pantheon, which is located right to the east of the square, and the Castel Sant’Angelo to the northwest on the other side of the river.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'listerious_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',123,'0','0'])); The Ancient Roman marketplace and its ruins, the Forum Romanum, is located About 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) to the southeast of the square, pretty much in walking distance!The square / Wolfgang Moroder / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en. About ListeriousContact usPrivacy PolicyDisclaimer, 1. A lively piazza in Rome with fountains and obelisk, here you will find street artists, portrait painters, restaurants and artwork. They were both built in 1574 under the rule of Pope Gregory III. Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. If you were in the Vatican in the morning, you probably came to Piazza Navona through Via dei Coronari or Via del Governo Vecchio. 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