Piazza Navona area
Rome's Piazza Navona takes its form from the ancient Stadio di Domiziano, dating from Roman times. It covers an area of about 270 metres long and 55 metres wide, built around 86 A.D. and able to accommodate up to 33,000 people. After being restored by Alessandro Severo, and arriving at its present layout following the intervention of Pope Innocent X, up to the XIXth century various types of performances and celebrations were organised, and during the month of August, when the piazza was flooded by closing off the discharges of the fountains, even naval battles took place. The name "Piazza Navona" probably originated from the competitions that that took place in the area. Coming from the Latin "in agone". In fact, over the centuries this turned into "nagone" and then finally "navona".
Piazza Navona has three fountains on his longitudinal side; laterally "Fontana del Nettuno o dei Calderoni" and "Fontana del Moro" which were designed by Giacomo della Porta, while the central "Fontana dei Fiumi" was designed by Bernini between 1648 and 1651 A.D. Facing the Fonta dei Fiume, built on the ruins of the Domiziano stadium and an ancient basilica - still visible from the underground vaults of the building - is the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, built in the form of a Greek cross, and originally designed by G. Rinaldi. It was completed in 1652 by Borromini, and has a characterisic concave facade, twin bell towers and dome.