The History of The Navona

Piazza Navona is located on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD.  Today the piazza follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The buildings around the square stand on the terrace of the old “cavea”, which could seat over 30,000 spectators. The ancient Romans came here to watch the agones (“games”), so it was known as Circus Agonalis (“competition arena”). It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone, to navone and eventually to navona, which means "big ship" in Italian, probably helped by the resemblance in shape.

Because of the popularity of the games, the surrounding area became a mix of inns and brothels, many of which established themselves in the archways supporting the stands encircling the arena.  The association of brothels with the vaults, or fornices, saw the beginning of the word "fornication".

The Navona was always a place for fun and celebrations. Alongside athletic events, there was a traditional fair, where a tall, greasy pole was erected, "the Albero della Cuccagna" (a nearby street still bears this name), with a prize of sausages tied to the top for those game to try to reach them. Jousts and tournaments were held here in the middle ages, with all the trimmings of gold and embroidered cloths. Even bullfights were staged here, as well as in the nearby Piazza Farnese.

Defined as a public space in the late of 15th century when the city market was transferred here from the Campidoglio, the Piazza Navona was transformed into a highly significant example of Baroque Roman architecture during the pontificate of Innocent X, who reigned in from 1644 until 1655. The Pope was keen to promote his family name through prestigious buildings and public monuments. His first project was to refurbish the huge Palazzo Pamphilj, their family home at the southern end of the Navona (now the Brazilian embassy). The next was to rebuild the small church located next door to the Palazzo, dedicated to the martyred St Agnes, turning it into a magnificent family chapel.

Finally, his greatest contribution to the Navona was the commissioning of the "Fountain of the Four Rivers". Much has been made of the rivalry between the architects Borromini and Bernini and each of the Innocent X monuments in the Navona bear the mark of this. (See my notes on separate pages.)

Between 1652 and 1866, every August for the Festival of Augustus, the entire piazza was flooded each Saturday and Sunday in elaborate celebrations by the Pamphilj family. (This is the basis of the tourist guide's erroneous stories of great naval battles being staged here.) The watery events became a focal point of the community, with rich and poor alike splashing and gamboling in the shallow water.

The pavement level was raised in the 19th century (ending the watery fun) and the market was moved again in 1869 to the nearby Campo dei Fiori.

The History of The Navona

Piazza Navona is located on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD. Today the piazza follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The buildings around the square stand on the terrace of the old “cavea”, which could seat over 30,000 spectators. The ancient Romans came here to watch the agones (“games”), so it was known as Circus Agonalis (“competition arena”). It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone, to navone and eventually to navona, which means "big ship" in Italian, probably helped by the resemblance in shape.

Because of the popularity of the games, the surrounding area became a mix of inns and brothels, many of which established themselves in the archways supporting the stands encircling the arena.  The association of brothels with the vaults, or fornices, saw the beginning of the word "fornication".

The Navona was always a place for fun and celebrations. Alongside athletic events, there was a traditional fair, where a tall, greasy pole was erected, "the Albero della Cuccagna" (a nearby street still bears this name), with a prize of sausages tied to the top for those game to try to reach them. Jousts and tournaments were held here in the middle ages, with all the trimmings of gold and embroidered cloths. Even bullfights were staged here, as well as in the nearby Piazza Farnese.

Defined as a public space in the late of 15th century when the city market was transferred here from the Campidoglio, the Piazza Navona was transformed into a highly significant example of Baroque Roman architecture during the pontificate of Innocent X, who reigned in from 1644 until 1655. The Pope was keen to promote his family name through prestigious buildings and public monuments. His first project was to refurbish the huge Palazzo Pamphilj, their family home at the southern end of the Navona (now the Brazilian embassy). The next was to rebuild the small church located next door to the Palazzo, dedicated to the martyred St Agnes, turning it into a magnificent family chapel.

Finally, his greatest contribution to the Navona was the commissioning of the "Fountain of the Four Rivers". Much has been made of the rivalry between the architects Borromini and Bernini, and each of the Innocent X monuments in the Navona bear the mark of this. (See my notes on separate pages.)

Between 1652 and 1866, every August for the Festival of Augustus, the entire piazza was flooded each Saturday and Sunday in elaborate celebrations by the Pamphilj family. (This is the basis of the tourist guide's erroneous stories of great naval battles being staged here.) The watery events became a focal point of the community, with rich and poor alike splashing and gamboling in the shallow water.

The pavement level was raised in the 19th century (ending the watery fun) and the market was moved again in 1869 to the nearby Campo dei Fiori.