Rome Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the most famous squares in Rome. It has begun to accumulate historical and artistic meanings since the times of ancient Rome.

Piazza Navona in Rome was originally called “in Agone”, its name comes from the Latin word Agones meaning games; in fact, Navona Square was built to be the Stadium of Domiziano where games as well as field and track events were played.

The ancient stadium was so wide that could seated up to 30,000 spectators. The square was built above the stadium, which is still partially open to the public, by following its perimeter from which it took its oval shape.

Rome Piazza Navona is probably the most emblematic expression of the vivacity of baroque art in Rome. All its statues, its buildings and its churches were made by the most important artists of that period:

such as Bernini, who sculpted the fountain of four rivers in the middle of the square, Borromini and Rainaldi, who made “Sant’Agnese in Agone”, and Pietro da Cortona who painted in fresco the prestigious Palace Pamphilj.

Another particular thing you should not miss concerns the different street artists who, since the postwar period, have begun to perform in the Navona Square with dance or cabaret shows or by painting portraits of people.