Piazza Navona is one of the most ancient and full of history places in Rome. The Piazza has its lenghtened shape because it resamples the route of a Roman stadium here built by emperor Domitian. Unlike amphitheatres as Colosseum, in the stadiums were not held gladiators' fights but sports competitions on the model of Greek Olimpyc games.

In the V century the stadium had been completely spoiled of the covering marbles by the Oriental Emperor Constant II and had been abandoned for a long time since there were only ruins. During the Renaissance it was decided to get back this open space and to transform it into one of the most beautiful squares in Papal Rome. Among many churches and palaces around it we remember the Church of St.Agnes in Agone, whose facade was planned by the architect Borromini, the most important exponent of Italian Baroque togheter with Bernini.

In the center of the square there is the wonderful Fountain of Rivers, ordered by pope Innocenzo X to Gian Lorenzo Bernini and made by his disciples following his schemes. It shows the four longest rivers known in the world, representing their continents: Danube, Ganges, Nile, Rio de la Plata. On both sides there are other two important and beautiful fountains: on southern side there is the Fountain of Moor, partially made by Bernini and his disciples and completed in the XIX century; on northern side the Fountain of Neptune, place here at the end of XVI century but fully rebuilt in XIX century.

In the neigbourhood around Piazza Navona there are: the Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima (St.Mary of Soul) whose facade was planned by the Reinassance architect Giuliano da Sangallo; the Church of Santa Maria della Pace (St.Mary of Peace) which contains a fresco by Raffaello and with the annexed cloister by Bramante; the Palace of Sapienza, in whose court there is the wonderful baroque church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, a masterpiece by Borromini; the Church of St.Luis of the French, with frescoes by Domenichini inside the chapel of Santa Cecilia and some masterpieces by Caravaggio inside the chapel of St.Matthew.