Beginning in the late 1400’s, Piazza Navona Rome was the site of the main outdoor fruit and vegetable markets of the city. READ MORE: What to eat in Rome – Top Roman traditional dishes. The stadium of Domitian also fell victim to this kind of destruction. 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 Neptune is located in the northern end of the piazza, while Fontana del Moro in the southern edge. One of the most amazing Piazza Navona facts is that the family palace of Pope Innocent X was built right on the square. ), 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. Domitian’s stadium was completed in the year 86 A.D. and is estimated to have seated between 15,000 and 20,000 people, which makes it a medium-sized stadium. About ListeriousContact usPrivacy PolicyDisclaimer, 1. 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. Walking down a golden Roman alley in the evening, the sound of water, of music, of laughter fills your ears. Your gaze is immediately drawn to the imposing Fountain of the Four Rivers in the center of the piazza, dominating the scene with its powerful presence and figures that seem to come alive from the sound of the rushing streams of water.. 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. Such a timeless beauty hardly goes unnoticed, especially if you are sensitive to art and charm. The important relic preserved in the church is the head of the saint. Navona Colors Hotel – Minimalist and stylish hotel 200 meters from Piazza Navona. The Piazza Navona Obelisk didn’t come from Egypt, 9. The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains, designed during the papacy of Gregory XIII: The first thing you might notice once you reach Piazza Navona is its oval shape. 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! The square is a prime example of Roman Baroque architecture, 6. From being only the place for the daily market, Piazza Navona soon became also place for the city’s celebrations and parades. Before the 15th century, the market of Rome was still located on the Capitoline Hill, one of the 7 historical hills of Rome located near the Roman Forum. Arguably one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to stay in Rome, Piazza Navona is also one of the most desirable ones. It features one of the most remarkable fountains in Rome, 8. The beauty of Piazza Navona relies also on the back streets all around. The Piazza Navona is … This means that the hieroglyphics which decorate the obelisk were carved into it by Romans. The largest of which is the Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, which was constructed in 1647 and 1651 and commissioned to Borromini. 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. Its long ground plan, with a curving narrow side to the north retains the form of the stadium (240 by 65 meters) built by the emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) for games and sporting competitions, later to include animal fights and gladiatorial combats. 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. The Pope’s palace is one of the buildings facing the square, 7. There is still access to the remains underneath the piazza and tours are held daily. This happened at the same time that the most famous square in Rome was being constructed, Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD, and follows the … It was flooded during a festival for over 2 centuries, Top 12 Facts About The Golden Gate Bridge, 12 Amazing Facts About St. Peter’s Square, 12 Facts About The Grand Place in Brussels, 8 Interesting Piazza Della Signoria Facts, 10 Impressive Facts About The Pariser Platz. Popular all year round, it’s particularly busy in summer when tourists and locals like to enjoy their cone sitting on a bench in the square. In this area, you can find some of the best hotels in Rome. Piazza Navona is one of the most famous and suggestive square of Rome, well-known all over the world. Facing the Fountain of the Four Rivers is Sant’Agnese in Agone church designed by architect Borromini. Since 1874, the orignal statues decorating this fountain were moved to the Galleria Borghese and replaced with copies.Fontana del Moro / Livioandronico2013 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en. 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. They were both built in 1574 under the rule of Pope Gregory III. Vanity Hotel Navona – Chic and spacious rooms 300 meters from Piazza Navona. This palace is called the Palazzo Pamphili and was completed between 1644 and 1650. It was turned into a public square in the 15th century, 5. It’s a very fascinating site to explore underground Rome and I certainly suggest visiting it if you are interested in history. Houses were built on the ruins which still has the shape of the stadium and so arose the Piazza Navona. 1. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. His tomb is inside this very church together with the graves of other members of the Pamphilj family. You can access the stadium from Via di Tor Sanguigna on the northern end of Piazza Navona. This way, the square became like a big lake inside the city where Romans would find relief and refreshment in summer. Fig. One of the most fascinating Piazza Navona facts is that the obelisk, which forms the centerpiece of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, wasn’t imported originally from Egypt but commissioned by Emperor Domitian in the late 1st century A.D. Piazza Navona is widely considered Rome’s most stunning Baroque masterpiece. Back in ancient times, the stadium wasn’t referred to as the “Stadium of Domitian” but as the “Circus Agonalis,” which translates to the “competition arena.”, eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'listerious_com-box-4','ezslot_6',111,'0','0']));Ancient Romans referred to games as “agones” and it’s believed that this changed over the centuries to “in avone” and eventually to “Navone” and “Navona,” which is how the square got its name.Stadium of Domitian remains / Wiki Commons. The reason behind this design is that it was built on top of the Domitian Stadium around 86 AD. The piazza is one of the most popular attractions in Rome so it’s pretty much always crowded. And so eventually this left a huge open space. Facing the restaurant is also Gunther Gelato Italiano, one of Rome’s best gelaterias, and Caffè Sant’Eustachio known for one of Rome’s best coffees. If you were in the Vatican in the morning, you probably came to Piazza Navona through Via dei Coronari or Via del Governo Vecchio. It has the same shape of a stadium and has been built for want of Pope Innocent X. If it’s not your first time in the city, you will likely end up here again for a reason or the other, be it because it’s very central, because you want to see it again or because you want to visit its surroundings. 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. 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. Together with the fascinating square in front of the largest church in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona can be considered one of the most remarkable examples of Roman Baroque architecture.Baroque Architecture / Bengt Nyman / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en. If you are traveling with your family, Piazza Navona is a lovely place to visit in Rome with a baby and enjoy a delicious ice cream. Piazza Navona is probably Rome’s most famous example of continuity in town planning. However, the construction was later taken over by Bernini in which the fountain had 4 figures that represent the 4 continents. 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. It’s fair to conclude that Bernini was one of the most influential Baroque artists in history. 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. Originally built in the 16th century, this palace can be found south of Piazza Navona. The church was built on the site of the martyrdom of Saint Agnese that took place in 304. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones ("games"), and hence it wa The design and form of the square are no accident. Piazza Navona is a pubic square in the capital of Italy, Rome. This origin explains both the shape and the present name of the square: in fact, the buildings that we can see today have been erected over the ancient stadium terraces, while the name “Navona” seems to derive from “in agone”. His family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced the piazza. PIN IT TO YOUR BOARD! Piazza Navona is built on an ancient athlete arena. 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