The Square of Navona in Rome: history, photo, description

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

The many-faced city, which for several centuries has been considered the most romantic, is famous for its unique squares, which are luxurious architectural monuments. They deserve no less attention than the antique masterpieces, which reached the descendants in excellent condition.

A place where it is always lively

The famous square of Navona in Rome is a true work of art in the open air, where it is always crowded. On the Piazza Navona built in Baroque style, the heartbeat is felt, as tourists and locals walk here from morning till night. In the evening, it becomes mysterious and fascinating with its amazing beauty. The former water circus and the Imperial Stadium are considered one of the most popular places among tourists.

The sights are shrouded in ancient secrets and ghost stories. So, the Italians piously believe that here at night roam the ghosts of fearing the inhabitants of the emperor Nero and the power Olympia, Pamphili, the daughter-in-law of Pope Innocent X, whom all the people hated.

The history of the appearance of this work of art

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

In 85, when Domitian reigned, the stadium of the oval form was significantly expanded and accommodated up to 15 thousand spectators. Often the arena was filled with water to play sea battles in front of astonished Romans. The imposing structure was decorated with numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting revered gods and courageous heroes, and traders and artisans opened their own shops here.

The stadium, which turned into a square

Sports competitions were held until the IV century, and during the Middle Ages the stadium, which had already ceased to be used for its intended purpose, turned into a spacious area on which churches grew, and in the place of the stands for spectators houses appeared. There were funny fairs, colorful carnival processions, costumed performances, and the place of folk festivals and celebrations is quickly becoming popular among residents.

The family of Pamphili, who adorned Piazza Navona

However, the image that came to contemporaries, the Square of Navona in Rome acquired during the Baroque period, closely related to the name of the oldest family of the city. In the XV century, Antonio Pamphili bought three magnificent buildings here, and two centuries later one of the representatives of the noble family, who became Pope of Rome, wanted to erect a magnificent family palace. Innocent X (in the world of Giovanni Battista) commissioned the project of the future palazzo to the famous architect D. Rainaldi.

After the completion of the construction Pamfili gave a luxurious family mansion to his daughter-in-law Donne Olympia, who wished to reconstruct the whole area in the likeness of a forum in Ancient Rome. By her order, an aqueduct appeared, later turned into a famous fountain of the Four Rivers, and next to the palace, on the site of a former medieval church with huge arches, was erected a church in honor of Saint Agnes. It was within its walls that Innocent X.

Built luxurious fountains in the XVII - XVIII centuries performed not only a decorative function, but also saved from exhausting heat. They were specially filled with water to cool the 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 masterpiece without exaggeration. Enchanted with architectural splendor, tourists are lost, not knowing what to look for. There is something to stop your views from admiring the guest.

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

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

You can not ignore the religious monuments located on the square. The majestic church of St. Agnes, seriously damaged during the Second World War, acquired a pristine appearance through the efforts of restorers. In an elegant building, decorated with baroque script, there is an important relic for all believers - the head of the martyred girl who died.

Opposite the huge Palazzo Pamfili there is a modestly looking church of the Holy Virgin Mary, inside which are kept the priceless frescoes of Raphael.

Architectural buildings that are admirable

Of course, one can not help but tell about the three fountains on Piazza Navona in Rome, behind which the glory of the greatest creations of architecture was fixed. 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 XIX century: it was adorned with a stone sculpture of the sea lord, an octopus smashing a trident.

In the center of another fountain, called "Moor", there is a statue of a giant struggling with a dolphin. Initially, in the waters of the structure were four stone newts, but in the XVII century the water source underwent restoration.

Genuine masterpiece of fountain art

But the most famous building is considered to be the fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome on Navona Square. Created by the talented sculptor Bernini in the middle of the XVII century, he occupies an honorable place among other architectural monuments of the Italian capital. This was a fairly costly project, and the authorities repeatedly raised taxes to allow the water source to appear in the stated 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 - the Ganges, the Nile, the Danube and the La Plata. Presented in motion, they are mounted on a column that embodies the balance. A high obelisk was made in Egypt, and inscriptions were made already in Rome. On its top you can see a metal dove holding a sprig of olive trees - a symbol of the noble family Pamphili.

On a powerful monument depicting Roman rulers surrounded by animal and plant life, and under the statues splashed a small artificial lake, in the transparent water of which tourists throw coins to return to the hospitable city.

Where to find and how to get there

On the Piazza Navona in Rome, whose address: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma, never stops the flow of people. Here, day and night roam admired by the spectacle of travelers, dreaming of a new meeting with the majestic city.

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

Secondly, by metro along the line B to the stations of Spagna or Barberini.

Magnet attracting tourists from different countries

The square of Navona in Rome, the description of which is presented in the article, like a magnet attracts tourists. Guests of the city with admiration say about a wonderful place where you can walk, enjoying architectural masterpieces, or snug in one of the many cafes, watching the passers-by. Today on the square there are expensive boutiques, and all the women of fashion in Europe specially come here to make purchases of popular brands. And even expensive outfits in prestigious shops do not stop lovers of shopping. Especially crowded in the square in December, when the Christmas fair-sale opens , and all things can be purchased with a good discount.

Now travelers are only surprised at how vast the territory is occupied by the modern Navona Square in Rome, photo of which all the guests are sure to make in memory of the majestic landmarks. Live music and incendiary dances, street artists, couples in love, colorful performances create a unique atmosphere, in which you want to plunge again.