NAVONA UNDERGROUND
Piazza Navona, 25From
- Museum
- Free wifi
- Audio Guide
- Training shoes
Description
NAVONA UNDERGROUND
A testimony of the first and only masonry stadium ever built in ancient Rome, the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian (Unesco World Heritage Site) lie about 5 metres beneath street level in Piazza Navona. A rich selection of unpublished photos, 3-Dimensional reconstructions, videos and informative panels introduce visitors to the millenial history of the Stadium, its development into the current square and the evolution of ancient Roman sports. The admission ticket include a multi-language audio guide. An average visit takes about 40 minutes.
It is hard to believe that beneath the bustling streets surrounding Piazza Navona lie the remains of an ancient Roman structure, rich in fascinating history. The Stadium of Domitian, also known as the Circus Agonalis, seated approximately 30,000 spectators and was used mostly for athletic contests and fighting competitions. This huge, spectacular outdoor arena was filled with plenty of professional gymnasts, performing in competitive disciplines such as foot races (usually involving female athletes), wrestling, the pancrazio (a mix of wrestling and boxing), the long jump, discus and javelin throws. Sports competitions were very important among the ancient Romans, to the point that some of the winners had their tombs engraved with their names. The name inscripted on the tombstone, curiously, was more valuable than the prize itslef (a crown made of oak and olive leaves). One of the largest entertainment venues in Roman history, today the Stadium of Domitian lies beneath the modern metropolis
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Information
Meeting Point: TOURISTATION NAVONA Piazza Navona, 25
Highlights:
- Discover what lies below street level at Piazza Navona
- Explore the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian
- Get priority access to see Rome's first permanent venue for competitive athletics
- Let your audio guide (available in 7 languages) tell you all about Piazza Navona, the history of the Stadium of Domitian, and the athletic games once held here
- Entrance fee
- Audioguide (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian and Portoguese)
- City app: download your own city map and audio guide (available in 6 languages). The audio guide will draw your attention to the most important aspects and explain the remarkable history of this eternal city
- 25 minute multimedia video, available at the Touristation office in Piazza d'Aracoeli, 16
- Free wifi at meeting point
- Guide
- Food and Drikns
- Pick up Service
COVID-19: IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Chirurgical Masks are required, please bring your own
- To reduce crowds, the number of visitors is limited