One of our evening tours started at Piazza Navona. We got there a little early as it’s a lovely area to relax a little and we grabbed a coffee and ice cream 🍦and some photos before our tour started. Even at night, it’s still really busy.
This is one of the largest squares in Rome, with 3 large fountains.
It is oval in shape, not square, and the reason for this is it was originally the Stadium of Dominitan for festivals and sporting events. During 1 tour, we were taken to the metro just outside the square and it still has the remains of the stadium wall.
La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers) was constructed for the Pope in 1651 and is the most photographed item in the square. The centrepiece is a tall Roman obelisk, surrounded by four figures, each representing the great rivers: Ganges, Nile, Danube and Rio de la Plata.
The Fontana del Moro is at the south of the piazza depicts a Moor fighting a dolphin – Bernini’s addition in the 17th century.
At the north is the Fontana di Nettuno, (Neptune) built in 1576 by Giacomo della Porta. The statues of Neptune surrounded by sea nymphs were added in the 19th century.
Both of these fountains were started prior to the Fontana dei Fiumi but have been altered several times as time has slipped by.
The original Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone dates back to around AD 300 when the young St Agnes was martyred here.
The church today that dominates the west side of the square opposite Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was commissioned by the Pope just after the fountain.
The spirit of Valeria Messalina is said to reside at the Piazza Navona. She was once married to Emperor Claudius. Valeria was known to have extra martial affairs, which put a strain on the marriage. After she challenged a local prostitute to see who could have the most sexual encounters in one night, the Emperor ordered her death. Since she was executed, it’s said her spirit wanders the Piazza, trying to hold the hand of men passing by, as well as grabbing their behinds.
Project Paranormal 