We now enter the old historical section still called Campo Marzio (The Field of Mars the god of war). This is the area where the legions were encamped during the Roman Republic; under the Caesars it was occupied by different public buildings, such as temples, stadiums, theaters etc. (Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Theater of Pompey which was where the church of St. Andrew now stands. In this area is Piazza Navona, which is one of the most superb squares of Rome built over the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian of which has kept the elliptical shape of the racing track.
It is decorated with three baroque fountains, the central one, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, is another product of Bernini's exuberant genius. The four allegorical figures represent the Nile, the Ganges, the
Danube and the River Plate. The monumental facade of the church of S. Agnese in Agone is the work of Bernini's rival, Borromini; a popular legend relates that Bernini's River Plate raises his hand so as to prevent the church from falling, but this was unveiled in 1651 and the church was only completed in 1666, so the legend does not correspond to fact.
We pass the Palazzo Madama, a beautiful XVII century building, now the seat of the Senate, and the Palazzo della Sapienza, which was the Roman University until 1935, built by Giacomo della Porta and Borromini (the rival of Bernini) and finally we reach the Pantheon.
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It is decorated with three baroque fountains, the central one, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, is another product of Bernini's exuberant genius. The four allegorical figures represent the Nile, the Ganges, the
Danube and the River Plate. The monumental facade of the church of S. Agnese in Agone is the work of Bernini's rival, Borromini; a popular legend relates that Bernini's River Plate raises his hand so as to prevent the church from falling, but this was unveiled in 1651 and the church was only completed in 1666, so the legend does not correspond to fact.
We pass the Palazzo Madama, a beautiful XVII century building, now the seat of the Senate, and the Palazzo della Sapienza, which was the Roman University until 1935, built by Giacomo della Porta and Borromini (the rival of Bernini) and finally we reach the Pantheon.
