STADIUM OF DOMITIAN

STADIO DI DOMIZIANO
Piazza Navona

About 85 AD, 275 x 106 m (902 x 348 feet)

There were two superimposed sectors (maeniana) and four entrances
It used to contain about 30,000 spectators

No documents proves the use of this stadium for naval battles that were instead held in the Naumachiae, stadiums specifically built for those kind of shows

However, from 1600s until the end of 1800s Piazza Navona was sometimes flooded with about 60 cm (2 feet) of water in the summer months to bring freshness to the Romans

Here maybe was found the sculptural group “Ajax with the body of Achilles” (or “Menelaus with the body of Patroclus”), today known as Pasquino

It was the seat of the market from mid-1400s until 1869 with the brief exception of the papacy of Innocent X Pamphili (1644/55) when the market was moved to Campo de' Fiori to give more nobility to the square where the Palace of the Pamphilj family stood

In 86 AD Domitian (81/96) established here the Certamen Capitolinum:
They were athletic games coupled with musical competitions that were held in the almost contemporary ODEON OF DOMITIAN on the area of today's Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne which was built on the curve of the auditorium

According to the Regional Catalogues the Odeon contained 10,600 spectators
The only visible remain is the “Monolithic column in cipolin marble” on Piazza dei Massimi

MASSIMO AT THE COLUMNS PALACE

PALAZZO MASSIMO ALLE COLONNE

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 145

1159, formerly known as Palazzo del Portico (Palace of the Portico) and part of the houses of the Massimo family

It was built over the ruins of the auditorium of the ODEON OF DOMITIAN (81/96), theater with 10,000 seats south of the Stadium of Domitian (Piazza Navona) used for music competitions that were part of the Certamen Capitolinum

1532/36 rebuilt by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481/1536) of whom is the architectural masterpiece

The building is still owned by the Massimo family one of the oldest in Rome, legendarily connected to Quintus Fabius Maximus the delayer, but historically documented “only” from the year 999

PORTICO

Beautiful ceiling with wonderful portal that leads into the VESTIBULE with stuccos

Two narrow courtyards that allow light to reach even the lower floors, with sculptures and archaeological finds, including a “Venus Anadyomene”

LOGGIA

Wooden ceiling with stuccos maybe by Baldassarre Peruzzi or Pietro Bonaccorsi aka Perin del Vaga (1501/47)

ENTRANCE HALL

Frieze “Stories of Fabius Maximus” by Daniele da Volterra (1509/66)

TAPESTRY ROOM

Flemish tapestries and frieze of Baldassarre Peruzzi

RED SALON

Frieze painted with scenes of the “Foundation of Rome” by Giulio Pippi aka Giulio Romano (1499/1546)

In addition heavenly hall and reception room

CHAPEL OF St. PHILIP NERI

On the second floor

Here St. Philip Neri (1515/95) on the 16^th of March 1583 resurrected for a short time the fourteen year old Paolo son of Fabrizio Massimo. After he confessed, he asked to die to join her sister who had died a few days before, so St. Philip Neri blessed him and Paul died again

Every March 16^th a religious ceremony takes place here and the building is open to all

“Miracle of St. Philip” by Cristoforo Roncalli aka Pomarancio (1552/1626)