Italy is a country known for its rich history. From ancient buildings and artefacts, to epic stories of empire and conquest, this European country is a treasure trove for discerning tourists looking to travel back in time. Perhaps one of the best aspects of an Italian vacation are the glimpses of what it was like to live in Italy hundreds, or even thousands of years in the past. With that in mind, we’ve put together a blog post about what Rome’s Piazza Navona looked like over 2,000 years ago. So, travel back in time with Ciao Italy, and let’s see what a day in the 1st century looked like…
Italy is a country known for its rich history. From ancient buildings and artefacts, to epic stories of empire and conquest, this European country is a treasure trove for discerning tourists looking to travel back in time. Perhaps one of the best aspects of an Italian vacation are the glimpses of what it was like to live in Italy hundreds, or even thousands of years in the past. With that in mind, we’ve put together a blog post about what Rome’s Piazza Navona looked like over 2,000 years ago. So, travel back in time with Ciao Italy, and let’s see what a day in the 1st century looked like…
One of the most famous of Italy’s baroque piazzas is Piazza Navona. Built in the 17th century on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, this historic square is well loved by tourists on an Italy trip, and locals enjoying the hustle and bustle of this Roman piazza. Long before the addition of its famous fountains and opulent architecture, before the coffee shops and restaurants arrived, Piazza Navona was quite different. In the 1st century, when the piazza was a stadium, it was used mostly as an athletic arena.
Now, the Piazza Navona is well known for its street hawkers, its artists, and its definitive snapshot of life in Rome. But back in the 1st century it was Rome’s first permanent venue for competitive athletics. Built in 86 AD using Greek influenced architecture, the venue could hold between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators. For the most part, the venue was used for foot races, but it was also used (briefly) for gladiatorial contests. There are more lurid tales, too. There are stories of the stadium’s arcades being used as brothels, and in Christian martyr-legend, St. Agnes was put to death in the Stadium Domitian. Eventually, the stadium fell into disuse and the arcades became living quarters for the poor. The stadium space itself became a meeting place, which is fitting. Now, the area is built over, and Rome’s most famous piazza sits on the site that once hosted races, gladiatorial contests, and myths and legends.
Rome is a city that reinvents itself. The Piazza Navona truly is a quintessential snapshot of the Italian story. With nods to the imperial days of the ancient Roman Empire, and with its current makeup as a fine example of baroque architecture, this site shows that Rome is a place in constant transition. When visiting this ancient space, take a moment and pause. Look around at the grand buildings, the beautiful fountains, and the bustle of contemporary Italy. If you listen carefully enough, if you let your imagination run free, you might catch a glimpse of the Rome that existed over 2,000 years ago. You might hear the clash of gladiators’ swords, or the ragged roar of an Italian crowd cheering on its athletes. Piazza Navona, a wonderful baroque piazza is superimposed over an old Italy, a place and time that has long since been lost. But the romance and the grandiosity of ancient Rome still exists. You just have to know where to look.
Get in touch with Ciao Italy when planning your next Italian vacation. We’ll be happy to help you find the very best Italian holiday package.
