Underground Rome: Tour of Navona Square and Domitian Stadium

The tour of Piazza Navona and the underground with the Stadium of Domitian will guide you to discover one of the most beautiful squares of Rome and its underground that houses the ancient Stadium of Domitian.

Discover the history of Piazza Navona

The tour will start in Piazza Navona that at the time of the Roman Empire was the site of the Stadium of Domitian, which was built by the homonymous emperor in 85 AD and later on restructured by Alexander Severus in the third century. The original name of the square was "in Agony" (i.e. Games in ancient Greek language), since it was only used for athletic competitions.

Visit Piazza Navona

Over the centuries, Piazza Navona has become the symbol of the Baroque in Rome. Today it houses the majestic church designed by master Borromini and frescoed by Pietro da Cortona; Fountain of the Four Rivers, designed by Bernini, who represents the four corners of the Earth and finally Pamphilij Palace, an imposing building of the seventeenth century, today the Embassy of Brazil. The obelisk is now at the center of the square, it was originally placed in the Circus Maxentius, who is still on the Appian Way.

Explore the remains of the Stadium of Domitian

The tour will continue in the basement of the square where you can see the Stadium of Domitian that, with over two thousand years of history, is one of the most impressive structures built during the Roman Empire. Originally it was long 276 meters, wide 106 and with a capacity of more than thirty thousand people. Unlike the Circus Maximus, the Stadium of Domitian does not have the "carceres" (gates which were originally used to let out race horses) and "thorn" (partition of wall around which the horses ran). The Stadium was adorned with several statues; the most famous was the one of Pasquino that is now placed in the square next to Piazza Navona.

Other walking tours to visit the Squares of Rome

If you are interested in other interesting walking tours focused on the most famous squares of Rome, do not miss the Group Tour of the Ancient Squares of Rome at Sunset and the Tour the Squares of Rome, the World's Greatest Open Museum.