A trip to the Eternal City, preserving an incredible amount of priceless cultural treasures, is a real journey into the past, since the amazing sights of Rome 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 delights tourists who are familiar with 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 reached the descendants in excellent condition.
The area where it is always lively
The famous Piazza Navona in Rome is a genuine work of art in the open air, where it is always crowded. Piazza Navona, a baroque-style building, has a heartbeat as tourists and locals walk 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 considered one of the most popular places among tourists.
The attraction is shrouded in ancient secrets and ghost stories. Thus, Italians sacredly believe that ghosts roam here at night, which inspired the inhabitants of Emperor Nero and the powerful Olympia Pamphili, the daughter-in-law of Pope Innocent X, whom all the people hated.
The story of a true work of art
The colorful Piazza Navona in Rome, the history of which began even 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 the Roman inhabitants. It was a place intended for athletic competitions, and, as the researchers believe, the word "match", sounding in Greek as "agon", and gave the name to the architectural object. Over time, having undergone various changes, it turned into the name of the square - "Navon".
In the year 85, when Domitian ruled, the oval-shaped stadium was significantly expanded and accommodated up to 15 thousand spectators. Often the arena was filled with water to play sea battles before the amazed Romans. The impressive structure 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 were held until the IV century, and during the Middle Ages the stadium, which was no longer used for its intended purpose, turned into a spacious square where churches grew, and houses appeared on the site of the stands. It hosted fun fairs, colorful carnival processions, costume shows, and the place of folk festivals and festivals quickly became popular among residents.
Pamphili family decorating Piazza Navona
However, the appearance that reached the contemporaries, Piazza Navona in Rome acquired during the Baroque period, closely associated with the name of the oldest family in the city. In the 15th century, Antonio Pamphili bought three magnificent buildings here, and two centuries later, one of the noblemen, who became the pope of Rome, wanted to erect a magnificent family palace. Innocent X (in the world of Giovanni Battista) entrusted the project of the future palazzo to the famous architect D. Rainaldi.
After the construction was completed, Pamphili presented a luxurious family mansion to his daughter-in-law Donna Olympia, who wanted to reconstruct the entire square in the likeness of a forum in Ancient Rome. By her order, an aqueduct appeared, which later turned into the famous Four Rivers fountain, and a church in honor of St. Agnes was erected near the palace on the site of a former medieval church with huge arches. It was within its walls that Innocent X rested.
The luxurious fountains erected in the XVII - XVIII centuries performed not only a decorative function, but also saved from the sweltering heat. They were specially overfilled 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 a masterpiece without exaggeration. Fascinated by the architectural splendor, tourists are lost, not knowing what to look for. There is something to stop our eyes on to an admiring guest.
Of course, the main decoration of Piazza Navona in Rome is the snow-white family mansion of Pamphili, which today houses the Brazilian embassy.
The 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 at the corner of the building is 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, on which the inhabitants of Rome hung out incriminating power pascivili.
One cannot ignore the religious monuments located on the square. The majestic church of St. Agnes, seriously damaged during the Second World War, gained its original appearance thanks to the efforts of restorers. In an elegant building, decorated with baroque script, there is an important relic for all believers - the head of the immaculate girl who suffered the martyrdom.
Opposite the huge Palazzo Pamphili is the modest looking church of the Holy Virgin Mary, inside of which are stored the priceless murals of Raphael.
Admirable Architectural Buildings
Of course, one cannot fail to tell about the three fountains in Piazza Navona in Rome, for which the glory of the greatest works of architecture was entrenched. The sculptural and water composition "Neptune" in the north of the square was originally an unremarkable stone pool, from which residents 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 the "Moor", there is a statue of a giant fighting with a dolphin. Initially, there were four stone newts in the waters of the structure, but in the XVII century the water source underwent restoration.
A true masterpiece of fountain art
But the most famous building is rightfully considered the fountain of the "Four Rivers" in Rome on Piazza Navona. Created by a talented sculptor Bernini in the middle of the XVII century, he occupies an honorable place among the other architectural monuments of the Italian capital. It was a rather expensive project, and the authorities repeatedly raised taxes to make the water source appear on time.
In the central part of the baroque fountain, there is a tall obelisk with hieroglyphs with a sculptural composition, which depicts allegorical figures symbolizing the four rivers - the Ganges, Nile, Danube and La Plata. Presented in motion, they are mounted on an equilibrium pillar. A high obelisk was made in Egypt, and inscriptions were already applied in Rome. At its top you can see a metal dove holding a sprig of olive - a symbol of the noble family of Pamphili.
A powerful monument depicts Roman rulers surrounded by animals and plants, and under the statues a small lake of artificial origin splashes, into the clear water of which tourists throw coins to return to the hospitable city.
Where is it and how to get there
In Piazza Navona in Rome, whose address is: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma, the flow of people never stops. Here, day and night, travelers admire the spectacle that they saw, dreaming of a new meeting with the majestic city.
Of course, tourists who find themselves 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. Firstly, it can be reached by city bus numbers 64 (stop Vittorio Emanuele), 70 or 492 (stop Piazza Navona), 87 (stop Piazza del Colosseo).
Secondly, take metro line B to Spagna or Barberini stations.
Magnet attracting tourists from different countries
Piazza Navona in Rome, the description of which is presented in the article, attracts tourists like a magnet. Guests of the city speak with admiration of a wonderful place where you can walk, enjoying the architectural masterpieces, or comfortably sit in one of the many cafes, watching passers-by. Today, expensive boutiques are located in the square, and all the fashionable women of Europe come here specially to shop for clothes of popular brands. And even expensive outfits in prestigious stores do not stop shopping lovers. Especially crowded on the square in December, when the Christmas sale fair 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 all guests will certainly make in memory of the majestic sights. Live music and fiery dances, street artists, couples in love, colorful performances create a unique atmosphere that you want to plunge into again.