For almost two thousand years Piazza Navona is the area popular among the citizens of Rome, and an obligatory place to visit for uncounted number of travellers.
At the end of 1st century Caesar Diomician ordered to build the Odeon and the stadium for 30 thousand spectators watching athletic contests of Greek origins.
The competitions were called Agones, thus the name of the church, which basement hides the only traces of ancient buildings left.
It is thought that the square in Agone, became later called Navone, and finally Piazza Navona.
During the next centuries the stadium has been slowly covered with the grass, and the buildings were build, on the places, where were the spectators seats.
The shape of Diomician stadium is visible in the outlook of the present square, which was rebuilt according to an idea of the Pope Innocent X.
The central place of the square is occupied by one of the most popular fountains in Rome, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
Near the fountain there is an entrance to the church of San’tAgnese in Agone with the sarcophagus to Innocent X.
On the southern side of the square there is a fountain of Moor fighting with the dolphin.
The moor almost looks into the windows of Pope’s residence- Palazzo Pamphili, facing the church Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, on the opposite side of the square.
The fountain of Neptune and the Nereids closes the Pazza Navona from the northern side.
Piazza Navone was and is a popular meeting place for both tourists and locals. People were coming here for various fairs, theatre shows and naval battles performed on the part of the square filled with water for that occasion.
Today the square is filled with street artists, mimes and singers , and the wooden stand appear once a year, where at the beginning of January, the friendly witch Befana gives sweets to the children.
