The history of the square goes back
to Ancient Rome. In this area rose the large Circus
of the Emperor Domitian. As a matter of fact the vast
elliptical shape of the square matches exactly the outlines
of the circus. Here were carried out mock sea battles,
grandiose public shows, games etc. In the following
centuries, although the complex fell into ruins, the
site was still a favourite spot by the Romans. In the
Middle Ages several festivals took place in this square,
it was used for jousting, horse-racing, and water festivals.
During the latter, which often took place in the stifling
dog-days of August, the piazza was flooded and Rome's
aristocracy had their gilded carriages pulled around
the artificial lake, while throwing money on every hand
in order to increase popular gayety.
These days, December
still sees the great Christmas' market, a means by which
the square's old festive is kept alive. The square,
with its fountains, the church of S.Agnese, Palazzo
Pamphilj and the buildings that surround it, was already
constructed between the 1600's and 1700's. Since then
nearly nothing has been changed and this is the secret
that characterizes the square. Pope Innocent X began
to arrange the public square, till that moment dirty
and neglected, with the reconstruction of Palazzo Pamphilj
commissioned to Girolamo Rainaldi.
The grandiose palace with its simple
mass gave immediately a distinguished look to the square,
to which were added later other constructions. The interiors
are noteworthy for the decorations of the hall with
frescoes by Pietro da Cortona, famous artist from Florence.
The Pope commissioned also the church of S.Agnese, on
the place where the saint endured the martyrdom. In
the Middle Ages a church had been already built on the
walls of the Circus. The ruins of which are still visible
under the new church. The church was designed by Borromini
(1645-50). The artist was particularly criticized and
mocked for the baroque concave and convex lines of the
façade, for the lightness of the campaniles and
the cupola, and for the completely new conception of
the whole building. The most pitiless of his critics
was his eternal rival Bernini.
The artist, sensible
and weak, suffered so much from the never ending critics
who committed suicide. The interior of the church is
by Carlo Rainaldi, richly decorated in conformity with
the baroque spirit. Pope Innocent X was buried here.
Once completed the square, the Pope continued to embellish
it with the construction of two fountains. One of these,
masterpiece by Bernini, is the central Fountain of the
Rivers (Fontana dei Fiumi).
On the group of rocks sit
the giants symbolizing the rivers of the four Continents:
the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the River of the
Plata. On top of it raises the obelisk dating from Domitian's
reign. The other fountain in front of Palazzo Pamphilj,
is the Fountain of the Moor. The third Fountain, to
the other side of the square is a recent work of the
XIXcent. Today the square is surrounded by characteristic
coffees and wine-bars, in the center of the square the
painters expose their works, and the Romans, adults
and kids, come to take a walk creating an indissoluble
harmony between art, history and true life
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