It represents per Moor, or African (perhaps originally meant to be Neptune), standing durante per conch shell, wrestling with verso dolphin, surrounded by four Tritons
I would recommend going con the mornings, as it is much quieter, and the sellers are not about con the mornings! Don’t miss an Italian ice cream sitting at the posh “3 Scalini” (3 steps) restaurant or, better, buy Tartufo in 9.5 euros (see Tip below). We shall pass through Foro Navona durante many of our trips durante Rome .
It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there onesto watch the agones (“games”), and hence it was known as “Circus Agonalis” (“competition fase”). It is believed that over time the name changed preciso in avone preciso navone and eventually sicuro Navona.
Fontana dei quattro fiumi (four rivers) or Fountain of the Four Rivers (1651) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, topped by the Obelisk of Domitian, brought here sopra pieces from the Circus of Maxentius. The punto of the fountain is a basin from the centre of which rocks rise preciso support four river gods and above them, an ancient Egyptian obelisk surmounted with the Pamphili family emblem of per dove with an olive twig. Collectively, they represent four major rivers of the four continents through which papal authority had spread: the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Levante, and the Rio de la Plata representing the Americas.
Sorgente del Gelso (Moor Fountain): The Southern most fountain. The fountain was originally designed by Giacomo della Uscita con 1575 with the dolphin and four Tritons. Con 1653, the statue of the Moor, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was added. Durante 1874, during a restoration of the fountain, the original statues were moved to the Tunnel Retrogrado and replaced with copies. In aged after per vandal attacked it with per hammer. The vandal also damaged the Trevi Fountain that night:
The middle fountain and the biggest sopra the square
Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune): The Northern most fountain. The basin part of the Fontana del Nettuno, (without the sculptures) was designed con 1574 by Giacomo Della Varco, who also designed the Moor Fountain at the opposite side of the square. For the next 300 years, the fountain survived without statues. The fountain as it exists today was finally completed durante 1878 by Antonio della Bitta, who added the imposing sculpture of “Neptune fighting with an octopus” and Gregorio Zappala, who created the other sculptures, based on the mythological theme of the “Nereids with cupids and walruses”. Statuary was Ricerca meet an inmate added following verso competition con 1873, con order to balance the statuary of the Moor Fountain on the south side of the piazza and of the Vena dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) at its centre.
Sant Agnese in Arena Church (also called Sant’Agnese) is opposite the Fontana dei quattro fiumi (four rivers) sopra Piazza Navona. it is dedicated puro St. Agnes born around 290. The young girl who according sicuro tradition suffered as verso martyr, was beheaded at age 12 by order of Emperor Diocletian. It is verso 17th-century Baroque church. It stands on the site where the early Christian Saint Agnes was martyred con the ancient Stadium of Domitian. Construction began sopra 1652 under the architects Girolamo Rainaldi and his son Carlo Rainaldi. After numerous quarrels, the other main architect involved was Francesco Borromini who was verso former student of Bernini and, later, per rival. The interior is breath taking and really worth seeing. Inside, there is a shrine with Saint Agnes’ skull. Notice the side altars which are dedicated onesto martyrs and spettacolo how each one died.