Piazza Navona, why it is one of the most beautiful places in Rome

In your tourist trip to Rome, without a doubt one of the essential visits is square Navona Located in the historic center of the city.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit it, surely in your mind you have the unmistakable image of the Navona square in Rome, with its elongated configuration and three sources that are arranged in the center and on both sides of it.

This elongated configuration is explained by its historical origin.

Curiosities history of Piazza Navona

Indeed, in the first century, during the time of the Roman empire, where the Navona square was located Domitian Stadium, a large building almost 300 meters long dedicated to game development.

El Domitian Stadium It had a capacity for 30.000 spectators and you can still see archaeological remains of it when you go to the Navona square.

Specifically, leave the square on the north side of it, and at the back of the building that faces the square you can see an underground area with said remains.

During the medieval period the Navona square It became a market, but it was at the end of the 17th century, during the time of the Pope Innocent, when this corner of Roma acquired the current configuration of baroque architecture.

Basilica of Santa Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona

Thus, at that time the Basilica of Saint Agnese in Agone dedicated to a twelve-year-old girl who was tortured for refusing to marry a pagan.

This basilica of Baroque, built by architect Borromini, was built where there had previously been an 8th century church.

La Basilica of Saint Agnese in Agone It stands out for its concave façade, and for its large dome installed on its Greek cross interior.

From the same period is also the Palazzo Pamplhili, located southwest of the plaza, and built for the family of the Pope Innocence.

Fountains in Piazza Navona in Rome

The other notable elements of the Navona Square in Rome They are your three sources, especially the one located in the center of it.

Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona in Rome

In front of the aforementioned Church of Sant Agnese in Agone you will see a great obelisk which is located on a large monumental fountain, the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Fiumi).

Made by the famous Italian sculptor Bernini, is undoubtedly the most important of the three sources what you can see in the Navona square.

This large marble sculpture was sculpted in 1652.  by Bernini on behalf of the Pope Innocent.

De Baroque, this fountain is an allegorical representation of the four great rivers which were then known in the world, the Nilo, Ganges, Danubio and River Plate.

Each of these rivers is represented with a large sculptural figure, as if it were a giant, with the great expressiveness typical of the Baroque era.

Along with the great giants, in the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona You can see the representation of significant animals from the different continents, such as the horse, the lion, the alligator or the snake.

Above the sculptural group is located the so-called Domitian Obelisk, egyptian obelisk which was brought to Rome by Emperor Domitian.

At the top of said obelisk appears the figure of another animal, a dove carrying an olive branch.

When visit the navona square, riding a Roma, you will verify that the Fountain of the Four Rivers It concentrates a large number of visitors around it.

Obviously not the impressive Trevi Fountain , Another essential on your trip to Rome, but it is one of the great works of who was one of the most famous artists of the Baroque, Bernini.

Fountain of Neptune in Piazza Navona, Rome

On the north side of the plaza is the Neptune Fountain, from the year 1574, although the central statue of the king neptune is 1878.

Fountain of the Moro in Piazza Navona in Rome

It was sculpted by the artist Giacomo de la Porta, the same author of the third, the Moorish Fountain. which you find on the south side of the plaza.

Historic floods in Piazza Navona

A curious corner of the square is the small tombstone on the facade of a house on its north side.

During your visit, look for it and you will see that it tells us the height reached by one of the great floods that this square has suffered, that which occurred on December 28, 1870.

You should know that the Navona square had a severe allergic long history of floods, but with very different characteristics.

Floods in Rome

On the one hand, the natural floods caused by floods from the nearby tiber river.

In this regard, according to known historical references, the most important floods in Rome They took place in the years 1495, 1530 and 1805.

Of the numerous floods that occurred in Rome, on the façade of the church Santa Maria sopra Minerava An even older tombstone is preserved as a reminder of a flood.

This tombstone indicates the water level that was reached in November 1276.

For its part, the tombstone that you can currently see in the Navona square It reminds us of the date of the last of the great natural floods, as well as the level reached by the waters, more than a meter and a half high.

Naval battles in Piazza Navona in Rome

But, on the other hand, in Navona square in Rome There was a time when every Saturday and Sunday in August the entire area was flooded as a recreational activity to do ship battles.

To do this, the drains of the Navona square fountains, and the water overflowed them until they flooded it and became a big Lake, as a dedication to the Pamphili family

This custom began in 1652, until 1866 when the Pope Pius IX He stopped this fun.

Only four years later was when the square suffered the aforementioned last major flood.

When visit Piazza Navona trust your trip to Rome, don't forget to see this commemorative plaque. I remind you that you will find it on the north side, on the facade of a house in front of the Neptune Fountain.

Tourist and commercial environment in Piazza Navona

Finally, it is worth mentioning that currently the Navona square It is one of the places with the greatest atmosphere in Rome.

This is reflected in the numerous terraces of cafes and restaurants which are arranged on the east side of it.

TOURS and EXCURSIONS in ROME

- Complete tour in Rome
- OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card in Rome
- Vatican Tour
- Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Tour in Rome
- Night tour of illuminated Rome
- Rome excursion from Civitavecchia
- Excursion to Catacombs and Via Appia
- Transfers in Rome

And on the other hand, the numerous commercial posts and the great artistic atmosphere that is lived in it, which all together makes this square one of the essential places for your visit of Rome.

Finally, and for your trip to the Italian capital, you may find this information interesting tours and excursions in Spanish in Rome, as well as the form for search hotels in Rome with booking.com.