Piazza Navona in Rome: history, photo, description

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

A trip to the Eternal City, which holds an incredible amount of priceless cultural treasures, is a real journey into the past, as Rome's amazing sights are closely intertwined with its rich history. The beautiful capital of Italy, in which the traces of the past harmoniously merged with modern life, surprises and delights tourists who know it only from photographs from textbooks and films of famous directors.

The many-faced city, which has been considered the most romantic for several centuries, is famous for its unique squares, which are luxurious architectural monuments. They deserve no less attention than ancient masterpieces that have come down to posterity in excellent condition.

A square where it's always busy

The famous Piazza Navona in Rome is a true work of art in the open air, where it is always crowded. On the Baroque PiazzaNavona's pulse is felt as tourists and locals roam here from morning to night. In the evening, it takes on a mysterious look and fascinates with its amazing beauty. The former water circus and the imperial stadium are among the most popular tourist destinations.

The attraction is shrouded in ancient mysteries and ghost stories. So, the Italians firmly believe that the ghosts of Emperor Nero, who terrified the inhabitants, and the imperious Olympia Pamphili, the daughter-in-law of Pope Innocent X, who was hated by all the people, roam here at night.

The history of the emergence of a real work of art

The colorful Piazza Navona in Rome, whose history dates back to before our era, was previously a stadium built at the behest of the great Caesar. The valiant emperor loved sports performances and spoiled the Roman inhabitants with various spectacles. It was a place intended for athletic competitions, and, as the researchers believe, the word "competition", which sounds like "agon" in Greek, gave the name to the architectural object. Over time, it, having undergone various changes, turned into the name of the square - "Navon".

In 85, when Domitian ruled, the oval-shaped stadium was significantly expanded and could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. Often the arena was filled with water to play naval battles in front of the astonished Romans. The impressive building was decorated with numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs.with images of revered gods and courageous heroes, and merchants and artisans opened their shops here.

The stadium turned into a square

Sports competitions were held until the 4th century, and during the Middle Ages, the stadium, which had already ceased to be used for its intended purpose, turned into a spacious square on which churches grew, and houses appeared instead of stands for spectators. Fun fairs, colorful carnival processions, costume performances were held here, and the place for folk festivals and holidays is quickly becoming popular among residents.

The Pamphili Family that graced Piazza Navona

However, Piazza Navona in Rome acquired its appearance, which has reached contemporaries, during the Baroque period, closely associated with the name of the oldest family in the city. In the 15th century, Antonio Pamphili bought three luxurious buildings here, and two centuries later, one of the representatives of a noble family, who became the Pope, wanted to build a majestic family palace. Innocent X (in the world of Giovanni Battista) commissioned the project of the future palazzo to the renowned architect D. Rainaldi.

After the construction was completed, Pamphili presented the luxurious family mansion to his daughter-in-law, Donna Olympia, who wished to reconstruct the entire area in the likeness of the forum in Ancient Rome. By her order, an aqueduct appeared, which later turned into the famous Four Rivers Fountain, and next to the palace, on the site of a former medieval temple with huge arches, a church was erected in honor of St. Agnes. It was within its walls that Innokenty X. rested.

The luxurious fountains erected in the 17th-18th centuries performed not only a decorative function, but also saved from the sweltering heat. They were specially overfilled with water to cool Piazza Navona in Rome.

What to see?

On the baroque-style square, every building that has become a real work of art can be called a masterpiece without exaggeration. Fascinated by the architectural splendor, tourists are lost, not knowing what to look for. Here there is something to stop the admiring guest with.

Of course, the main decoration of Piazza Navona in Rome is the snow-white family mansion Pamphili, which today houses the Brazilian embassy.

Palazzo Braschi, built for a relative of another pope - Pius VI - is now given over to the Roman Museum, where you can see a huge number of exhibits, and on the corner of the building there is an ancient statue discovered by archaeologists at the beginning of the 16th century. It is assumed that this is one of the sculptures installed in ancient times in the stadium, on which the inhabitants of Rome hung lampoons incriminating the authorities.

It is impossible to ignore the religious monuments located on the square. The majestic Church of St. Agnes, seriously damaged during the Second World War, has gained its original appearance thanks to the efforts of restorers. In an elegant building decorated with baroque ligatures, there is an important relic for all believers - the head of an immaculate girl who was martyred.

Opposite the huge Palazzo Pamphili is the modest-looking Church of the Virgin Mary, which houses the priceless frescoes of Raphael.

Amazing architectural structures

Of course, it is impossible not to talk about the three fountains in Piazza Navona in Rome, behind which the glory of the greatest creations of architecture has been entrenched. The sculptural and water composition "Neptune" in the north of the square was originally an unremarkable stone pool, from which the inhabitants took drinking water for their needs. Built in the 16th century, it turned into a real work of art at the end of the 19th century: it was decorated with a stone sculpture of a sea lord smashing an octopus with a trident.

In the center of another fountain, called "Moor", there is a statue of a giant fighting a dolphin. Initially, four stone newts were in the waters of the structure, but in the 17th century the water source was restored.

A true masterpiece of fountain art

But the most famous building is considered to be the fountain of the "Four Rivers" in Rome on Piazza Navona. Created by the talented sculptor Bernini in the middle of the 17th century, it occupies a place of honor among other architectural monuments of the Italian capital. It was a rather costly project, and the authorities repeatedly raised taxes to ensure that the water source appeared on time.

In the central part of the baroque fountain, there is a high obelisk covered with hieroglyphs with a sculptural composition depicting allegorical figures,symbolizing the four rivers - Ganges, Nile, Danube and La Plata. Presented in motion, they are mounted on a pillar embodying balance. The high obelisk was made in Egypt, and the inscriptions were applied already in Rome. On its top you can see a metal dove holding an olive branch - a symbol of the noble Pamphili family.

Roman rulers are depicted on a powerful monument surrounded by flora and fauna, and under the statues there is a small lake of artificial origin, into whose clear water tourists throw coins to return to the hospitable city.

Where is it and how to get there

Piazza Navona in Rome, Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma, never stops crowded. Travelers admiring the sight they have seen wander around here day and night, dreaming of a new meeting with the majestic city.

Of course, tourists in the charming capital of Italy are interested in the question of how to get to Piazza Navona in Rome. It is very easy to do this. Firstly, it can be reached by city buses number 64 (stop Vittorio Emanuele), 70 or 492 (stop Piazza Navona), 87 (stop Piazza del Colosseo).

Second, by metro line B to Spagna or Barberini.

A magnet that attracts tourists from different countries

Piazza Navona in Rome, which is described in the article, attracts tourists like a magnet. Guests of the city speak with admiration about the wonderful place whereyou can walk, enjoying the architectural masterpieces, or cozy up in one of the many cafes, watching passers-by. Today, expensive boutiques are located on the square, and all European fashionistas specially come here to shop for clothes of popular brands. And even expensive outfits in prestigious stores do not stop shoppers. The square is especially crowded in December, when the Christmas market-sale opens, and all things can be purchased at a good discount.

Now travelers are only surprised at how vast the territory is occupied by the modern Piazza Navona in Rome, a photo of which is certainly taken by all guests as a keepsake of the majestic landmark. Live music and incendiary dances, street artists, couples in love, colorful performances create a unique atmosphere that you want to plunge into again.