WHAT TO DO IN ROME: PIAZZA NAVONA AND THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Christmas in Rome
Christmas and even Rome prepares for this holiday. Rome at Christmas is synonymous with markets in Piazza Navona. In fact, in the Eternal City is home to one of the most evocative Christmas markets that can be found; place in one of the most fascinating squares in the world, at any time of the year, which at Christmas becomes even more magical.
Piazza Navona sees its origins as the ancient "Stadio Domiziano" hence its elliptical shape that remains as we see it today, which then underwent a transformation during the Baroque, so much so as to become one of the main squares symbol of the movement. Absolute emblem of Baroque Rome in Piazza Navona of admire the masterpieces of Bernini and Borromini, both wanted to celebrate the House of Pamphili whose image, as we see it today, and the choice of the artists who occupied the powerful Donna Olimpia who delivered it to the World as we see it today and that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Piazza Navona, emblem of the Roman Baroque
Emblem of the square are certainly the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone by Francesco Borromini.
The Fountain of the Four Rivers, located in the center of the square, is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world where are represented the rivers Ganges, Danube, Rio de la Plata and Nile, with an obelisk in the center that seems to be suspended in the void in an original idea of the divine Bernini. Above all dominates a Dove, symbol of the Papacy, but also the triumph of the Church on the four continents that the Rivers represent.
Sant'Agnese in Agone was born in the place where the Saint suffered her martyrdom, it was completed by Borromini, architect wanted by the then Papa Innocent X who wanted a private chapel next to the family-owned building. Borromini distorted the original project "inventing" the concave facade to give more prominence to the dome and delivering to the whole world one of the most beautiful churches existing today.
Piazza Navona at Christmas
The square symbol par excellence of the Baroque era is the ideal location for a Christmas atmosphere of yesteryear and to breathe the evocative air of Christmas in the Eternal City. Piazza Navona in fact, for just over a month, is filled with colorful stalls and picturesque attractions: in the center of the square is placed a vintage carousel, unique, to the delight of children, a shiny Christmas tree and a large Nativity scene. All around street performers, singers, musicians brighten up the atmosphere.
