The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (St. Louis of the French), in the neighbourhood of Piazza Navona in Rome, was designed by Giacomo della Porta and then built by the architect Domenico Fontana between 1518 and 1589; vital was the intervention of Catherine de’ Medici, who gave some lands in that area. Ever since, […]
When in 1501 the Cardinal Oliviero Carafa eventually found a damaged ancient statue and put it besides his palace, a few steps from Piazza Navona at the end of via del Governo Vecchio, it soon became the first of a long series of “talking statues” of Rome, used by the people to post satires against […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Piazza Navona is surely one of the most popular area in Rome, well-known all over the world for its beautiful Baroque monuments. Its characteristic elongated shape derives from the ancient Stadium built by the Emperor Domitian in the 85 A.D., very popular for the agones (games) that took place here. This origin explains both the […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Palazzo Braschi, seat of the civic museum of Rome (Museo di Roma) since 1952, boasts an enviable location in the very centre of Rome between Piazza Navona, Piazza di Pasquini, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the popular Campo de’ Fiori. During the 16th century, this area was occupied by another palace built by Giuliano da Sangallo […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Christmas time in Rome is synonym of Piazza Navona, the beautiful Baroque square housing every year from the 1st December to the Epiphany a characteristic Christmas market. The elongated square, mindful of the shape of the ancient Domitian Stadium, fills up of many different stalls selling any kind of toys, overly sweets and, above all, […]
by Emanuele Buffa
The Moor Fountain is located in the southern area of Piazza Navona, in front of the Pamphilj family’s palace. It takes its name from the central sculpture representing an Ethiopian fighting with a dolphin, realised in 1654 by Gian Antonio Mari on a project by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The fountain was originally projected in 1576 […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Piazza Navona is one of the most popular and dynamic area in Rome. The huge square, characterised by the elongated-shape deriving from the pre-existing Domitian Stadium, is famous for its three monumental fountains. The central one is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), a masterpiece realised by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Piazza Venezia is literally dominated by the imposing white mass of the national monument dedicated to Victor Emanuel II, better known as Vittoriano. It was built to celebrate the Unification of Italy in 1860 and Victor Emanuel II, the Father of the Country, as well. The building was fixed by King Umberto I in 1878 […]
by Emanuele Buffa
One of the most important late-Baroque works of art in Rome, the Trevi Fountain is a true wander, a jewel of marble and water, as well as a symbolic representation of the main element of nature, water; the architectural elements themselves seem to be sculptured by the force of this vital liquid. It is the […]
by Emanuele Buffa
Piazza Venezia is without any doubt one of the main hub of city traffic and an obligatory stop point for tourist as well. Created in 1911 after several demolitions involving the North side of the Capitoline Hill, today it is literally dominated by the extreme and imposing monument to Victor Emanuel II, the Vittoriano. The […]
by Emanuele Buffa
