Navona square

Navona Rome

Navona square (Piazza Navona) originally was a stadium. The stadium was built in 86 a.D. under the Emperor Domiziano, and was meant to host sport competition like those of the Greek Olympics; the stadium was more than 885 feet (270 meters) long and 180 feet (55 meters) wide, and it could have housed 33.000 people. During the V century a.d. the Emperor of the Eastern Empire Costante II pillaged the marbles that covered the stadium leaving it abandoned and in ruin. It was during the Renaissance that the recovery of this wonderful site started; among the beautiful buildings and the churches that run along the square we would like to point out Sant'Agnese in Agone, with a façade that bears the mark of one of the biggest architects of that times, Borromini. Another great artist, Bernini, realized the Rivers' Fountain, commissioned by Pope Innocenzo X, that sits in the middle of the square; with the help of his school he realized the Moor's Fountain placed on the southern end of the square. On the northern end we can admire Neptune's Fountain, built in the XVI century and renovated in the XIX century. During the papacy of Pope Innocenzo X that started the custom of closing the square, flooding it every Saturday and Sunday of august in order to give some rest to the people of Navona square originally was a stadium. The stadium was built in 86 a.D. under the Emperor Domiziano, and was meant to host sport competition like those of the Greek Olympics; the stadium was more than 885 feet (270 meters) long and 180 feet (55 meters) wide, and it could have housed 33.000 people. During the V century a.d. the Emperor of the Eastern Empire Costante II pillaged the marbles that covered the stadium leaving it abandoned and in ruin. It was during the Renaissance that the recovery of this wonderful site started; among the beautiful buildings and the churches that run along the square we would like to point out Sant'Agnese in Agone, with a façade that bears the mark of one of the biggest architects of that times, Borromini. Another great artist, Bernini, realized the Rivers' Fountain, commissioned by Pope Innocenzo X, that sits in the middle of the square; with the help of his school he realized the Moor's Fountain placed on the southern end of the square. On the northern end we can admire Neptune's Fountain, built in the XVI century and renovated in the XIX century. During the papacy of Pope Innocenzo X that started the custom of closing the square, flooding it every Saturday and Sunday of august in order to give some rest to the people of Rome/" title="Rome Hotels">Rome from summer hottest days. During the ancient times the Stadium held water shows, games and battles reconstructions (Naumachie). Nowadays this square is one of the most characteristic places in the city of Rome, thanks to its astounding charm, to its surroundings, narrow alleys and beautiful buildings, to the mix of Romans and tourists that gather in the square all day long. from summer hottest days. During the ancient times the Stadium held water shows, games and battles reconstructions (Naumachie). Nowadays this square is one of the most characteristic places in the city of Rome, thanks to its astounding charm, to its surroundings, narrow alleys and beautiful buildings, to the mix of Romans and tourists that gather in the square all day long.

Roma - Fontana dei fiumi
by Eric Medvet

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