Piazza Navona in the A.M.

When one thinks of Piazza Navona, it usually brings to mind a scene full of people, art, and food. In the morning time, however, things are quite different. Since the market was moved to Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona is rather barren in the mornings.

The usual crowds of tourists are no where in site. The artists that fill the North end of the piazza have yet to arrive and begin their days work. The metal gates are still covering the doorways to the restaurants and their tables and chairs sit empty under the umbrellas. There are only a few people walking their dogs through the piazza. Most of them are simply passing through on their way to somewhere else.

The peacefulness of the empty space allows one to really admire the buildings and fountains in the piazza. When it is full of people and artists it is hard to see everything the space itself has to offer. The rushing water of the fountains takes over the piazza instead of the usual sounds of tourists and musicians.

In the morning Piazza Navona becomes the perfect place to gather your thoughts before you delve into the hectic city of Rome.

Directions to Piazza Navona

Starting from the Termini Station, at the Piazza del Cinquecentro looking out, turn left on Via Cavour. Continue down five streets and turn right onto Via A. Depretis, which will turn into Sistina Via Quattro Fontane. About six streets down on your right, you will notice Piazza Barberini and the Fontana del Tritone. Turn left on Via del Tritone. Continue down and make a left on Via del Corso. Walk down the road looking for Banca di Roma on the right. Here on the right as well, you will find my school in Piazza del Collegio Romano. Continue on Via del Corso until you see Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Make a right here. While on this road you will see Sant’Andrea della Valle on your left. The next street on your right is Corso del Rinascimento. Turn right here. Turn left on Via del Conestrani. Here you will find Piazza Navona.

The center of Piazza Navona, in the afternoon, will be filled with artists and their artwork, musicians, and tourists. There are plenty of restaurants that line the perimeter of the piazza. Above the restaurants are quaint brick buildings, with flower boxes on each window sill. Don’t forget to stop at each of the three fountains, located at each end and in the middle of Piazza Navona.

Sant'Agnese in Agone

When you enter Piazza Navona from Corsia Agonale, which you would if you were coming from the Pantheon, you are immediately met by an overwhelming building. This is the Sant'Agnese in Agone church. The name comes from St. Agnes, a young, virgin martyr. It was built in 1657. It is said that St. Agnes was forced to renounce her faith, naked and was killed on this site and burried in the catacombs along Via Nomentana.

The concave facade of the building was done by Rainaldi but mostly planned by Borromini. I did not know it earlier but after I researched this building I found out something interesting about the Fountain of Four Rivers. It is said that Bernini, who created the fountain, had one of the personifications hold his hand, seeming to protect himself from the facade of the Sant'Agnese in Agone. This is thought to be because of a tense relationship between the two men, but can't be proven because the fountain was completed before the facade of the building. The statue of St. Agnes, that resides on the facade of the building, is there to reassure the stability of the church.

On the interior of Sant'Agnese in Agone there is a dome covered in frescoes painted by Ciro Ferri, Sebastiano Corbellini, and Il Baciccia in the late 17th century. There is also the body of Pope Innocent X, who had the church enlarged, lays in a crypt to the left of the alter.

EyeWitness Guide. pg. 121

"Sant'Agnese in Agone." Wikia. 27 Feb 2007. 2 Jun 2008. http://romanchurches.wikia.com/wiki/Sant'Agnese_in_Agone.

The Fontana del Moro & Fontana del Nettuno in Piazza Navona

The Fontana del Moro sits on the southern end of the Piazza Navona, to the left of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi if you come from the Pantheon. It was designed by Giacomo della Porto and erected in 1575. The bottom of the staute is of four Tritons and the basin is made of special antique rose marble. The center of the statue, a Triton, resembling a moor, holding a dolphin, was added by Bernini in 1654. The statue received its name from Bernini's addition. This water fountain statue is extremely beautiful to watch on a nice sunny day, but there is another wonderful statue at the north end of Piazza Navona to see.

To the right of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is the Fontana del Nettuno. Although it is not labeled in our Eyewitness Guide book it is definately something to check out while in Piazza Navona. It was also built by Giacomo della Porta but in 1576. It is also known as Calderari, which means brazier. The water fountain statue is comprised of a Neptune surrounded of sea nymphs, that was added in the 19th century. Around them are various creatures and people. There is a large horse that seems to fighting for its life, drowning in the water. Both statues are extremely beautiful in their own way but have similar qualities because both were created by the same man.
Bakerjian, Martha . "Walking Tour of Piazza Navona in Rome." About.com. 26 May 2008. http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeitaly/ss/piazzanavona_4.htm.

"Piazza Navona." A view on cities . 26 May 2008. http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/piazzanavona.htm.

History on Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is located in Rome between Corso del Rinascimento and Via di Santa Maria dell'Anima, or more broadly between Campo de'Fiori and Piazza della Rotanda. The square was created so that the Romans could watch the agones, or games, occurring in the square. The square then became known as 'Circus Agonalis' but evolved to 'in agone' to navone and finally to navona. The area officially became a square in the 15th century when the Campidoglio market was moved to the Piazza Navona.

Although the market now exists in Campo de'Fiori, Piazza Navona still has lots to offer locals and visitors at all times of the day. There is a plethora of restaurants, cafes, churches, and sculptures to dine in or admire.

The center of the Piazza is home to the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. The fountain was designed by Bernini and erected in 1651. "The Fountain of the Four Rivers" supports an Egyptian obelisk and is said to represent the four main rivers in the four continents that Renaissance geographers recognized. This fountain, along with all the other ones in Rome, was extremely important to Romans because it served as a source of water for those in the area and as a monument to the papal pastors.

It is unfortunate that at the moment is either under repair or being cleaned, so there is scaffolding and tarps surrounding it. It is difficult to grasp the true beauty and importance of the fountain while it is mostly covered. I have read that the statue contains the river-god Ganges but I have yet to be able to see him through the construction. I hope to see him before the summer ends!

"Piazza Navona." Wikipedia. 08 May 2008. 22 May 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_navona.

"Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi." Wikipedia. 08 Apr 2008. 22 May 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_dei_Quattro_Fiumi.

Eyewitness Guide Book

Is this real or a movie set?

So it's Sunday afternoon and what a better way to spend it than exploring Piazza Navona with the sun shining bright! As soon as I entered I noticed that there were so many families out together. It was so nice to see but also made me a little home sick. I decided to have some lunch at the restaurant Ai Tre Tartufi. It was directly in the middle of the piazza. I felt like I was on a movie set with the sun shinning, the beautiful architecture everywhere, and a boy playing an accordion while I ate my cannelloni. It was delicious. I couldn't imagine a more perfect Sunday afternoon.

While I was eating I noticed a theme occurring in the piazza. Everything that was happening had to do with the arts. There was lots of artwork for sale and painters creating masterpieces right on the street. There were guitar players, accordion players, and saxophone players all over the place. There was even a magician/mime putting on a show right in the middle. He drew in a huge crowd of on lookers. It seemed like an appreciation for the arts was on tap for Sunday afternoon in the piazza!

Piazza Navona

When I was thinking of a location to blog about I knew I wanted to do a piazza because they are an important part of Italian culture and the city of Rome in general. I chose the Piazza Navona, specifically the events that occur in it, because I am a Public Relations major. I thought it would be interesting to see how events occur there, who attends them, and how the events and activities change due to the time of day. The Piazza Navona is filled with shops, restaurants, fountains, churches, and Renaissance buildings. There is always something going there day and night. I can not wait to explore the Piazza Navona for the next 7 weeks!