Stadio di Domiziano - Navona Square Underground
Stadio di Domiziano - Navona Square Underground
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
NAVONA SQUARE UNDERGROUND The ruins of the Stadium of Domitian (Unesco World HeritageSite) in Piazza Navona are located about 4.50 meters below street level. The archaeological site is all that remains of the first and only example of a masonry stadium up to now known in Rome. Audioguide, even for children, panels and 3D video show the history of sport the history of sport and sports practices from ancient Greece to Imperial Rome, with particular attention to the history of the stadium and the square. We are open every day of the year.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Parioli
Young and well-to-do families are the street flavour of Parioli. A new kind of Rome, this area is centuries away from the Renaissance with its pockets of 1930s palaces, tony boutiques, open-air markets and plenty of coffee shops. Parioli was built as an enclave for last century’s haute bourgeois and still represents as such in 21st century Rome. Need a break? The area has several great sporting clubs known for tennis and riding, a wonderful modern art museum, easy access to the zoo (Europe’s oldest), and is nestled around Rome’s very best parks including Villa Borghese, Villa Ada and Villa Glori.
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2,509 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- GRad44Melbourne, Australia58 contributionsSurprisingly worthwhile visit that deepens understanding & appreciation of Piazza NavonaThis was a surprisingly good little audio guide tour of a section of the Roman stadium beneath the piazza Navona. Well worth a visit as it totally changes your perspective & understanding of the piazza itself. Audio guide took about 30mins, easy to follow. We also did the extra section which entailed being taken out and across the piazza to the other side and into some private buildings and down below where additional, quite extensive ruins have been uncovered and preserved. 3 more audio guide points there. Not essential but for an extra 4Eu & 15mins I think it’s worth it.ThanksWritten 13 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 October 2023
- Ashleigh L8 contributions100% worth a visitReally interesting walking through and learning about the history of the Piazza Nanova and Stadium of Domitian. While there may not be heaps to physically see compared to other ruins, the audio guide and infographics do a great job at painting a picture and filling in the blank spots. Well curated and organised.Thanks 😊Written 13 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 December 2023
- Maryam A1 contributionStadium of Domitian is a hidden gemThe Stadium of Domitian is a hidden gem in the heart of Rome. This archaeological site offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancient Roman world, right beneath Piazza Navona. The informative displays and detailed descriptions bring the history to life, making it easy to imagine the grandeur of the original stadium. It's a perfect spot for history enthusiasts, and a quiet escape from the bustling city above. Highly recommended for anyone looking to dive deeper into Rome's rich past!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
792 reviews
Excellent
442
Very good
244
Average
62
Poor
25
Terrible
19
Ashleigh L
8 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Really interesting walking through and learning about the history of the Piazza Nanova and Stadium of Domitian. While there may not be heaps to physically see compared to other ruins, the audio guide and infographics do a great job at painting a picture and filling in the blank spots. Well curated and organised.
Written 13 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks 😊
Written 13 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maryam A
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
The Stadium of Domitian is a hidden gem in the heart of Rome. This archaeological site offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancient Roman world, right beneath Piazza Navona. The informative displays and detailed descriptions bring the history to life, making it easy to imagine the grandeur of the original stadium. It's a perfect spot for history enthusiasts, and a quiet escape from the bustling city above. Highly recommended for anyone looking to dive deeper into Rome's rich past!
Written 23 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tualie
Varese, Italy1,604 contributions
May 2022
This was a sports arena (circus are the ones for chariot-racing), Domitian loved the Greek culture, built this stadium and held games every four years. The visit is split in two parts: the first, archeological area where the curve of the stadium can be seen and the second part the French culture school undergrounds... If looking from above Piazza Navona, the shape of the stadium is very clear and for sure many but many other Roman foundations are under those private houses.
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks
Written 17 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loretta R
Hermosa Beach, CA395 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
After visiting Piazza Navonna, head to the north end of the piazza, and you will emerge into Piazza Tor Sanguigna where four streets intersect. At this intersection, there is a hole that exposes an entombed ancient level beneath the foundations of one building. If one leans into the hole, the sun-starved remains materialize of Emperor Domitian’s Stadium, constructed in 86 A.D. One of the stadium’s terrace arches is viewable and astonishingly preserved. The archway calls out, invites passersby to dive in and emerge in the midst of the ancient stadium—like a star, like a hero with the spirits of millennia-dead Romans to cheer such a spectacular entrance across the centuries of separation. If one were to do exactly that, dive in, that person would see the subterranean remains of the 30,000-seater sports stadium, a gentle stadium as contrasted with the 70,000-seater gladiatorial Coliseum, built ten years earlier. Society rarely values gentleness, however—then and now. Consequently, outshone by the popular blood-splattering Coliseum, the Stadium of Domitian was eventually buried and used as a foundation for the Piazza Navonna structures. Even as a dejected stadium, however, its magnetism is fierce as the four streets draw around the small gateway into a magnificent past, which calls out, invites passersby to dive in! Visit this little ruin. It’s positioned between some mega-star landmarks and worth a peak while you pass by.
TIP: If you are leaving Piazza Navonna with plans to head to the Ponte Sant’Angelo to either access Castel Sant’Angelo or the Vatican, then take Coronari Street, a medieval lane. It’s a beautiful experience. You can access Via Coronari at the Piazza Tor Sanguigna intersection. When you pass the stadium ruins, head onto the cobblestoned small street, the one that is no wider than the shoulders of five large men standing side to side. Coronari was part of Pope Sixtus IV’s urban renewal project in the early 1400s, along with the Sistine Chapel. Its peak traffic was during the late Middle Ages, when pilgrims used the street to walk towards the Vatican. Knowing the pilgrims’ path, merchants lined the route with sacred souvenirs and rosaries, to be carried for blessings into Saint Peter’s Basilica. Consequently, the street became popularly called Via dei Coronari since rosary beads were referred to as crowns of beads—coronari. On the street, you’ll find building shrines and a lot of antique shops. And even if you aren’t looking to shop, here is where you can absorb a classic Roman spirit. Coronari buildings exude Italian shabby-chic—peeling plasters of earth-colors, predominately parched browns and bleached oranges. Their doorways are tight, often lined with white marble. There are climbing plants on the walls and shuttered windows. This is the Rome that many of us imagine prior to visiting. Coronari will end on the street that becomes Ponte Sant’Angelo, so you will not get lost on this street.
TIP: If you are leaving Piazza Navonna with plans to head to the Ponte Sant’Angelo to either access Castel Sant’Angelo or the Vatican, then take Coronari Street, a medieval lane. It’s a beautiful experience. You can access Via Coronari at the Piazza Tor Sanguigna intersection. When you pass the stadium ruins, head onto the cobblestoned small street, the one that is no wider than the shoulders of five large men standing side to side. Coronari was part of Pope Sixtus IV’s urban renewal project in the early 1400s, along with the Sistine Chapel. Its peak traffic was during the late Middle Ages, when pilgrims used the street to walk towards the Vatican. Knowing the pilgrims’ path, merchants lined the route with sacred souvenirs and rosaries, to be carried for blessings into Saint Peter’s Basilica. Consequently, the street became popularly called Via dei Coronari since rosary beads were referred to as crowns of beads—coronari. On the street, you’ll find building shrines and a lot of antique shops. And even if you aren’t looking to shop, here is where you can absorb a classic Roman spirit. Coronari buildings exude Italian shabby-chic—peeling plasters of earth-colors, predominately parched browns and bleached oranges. Their doorways are tight, often lined with white marble. There are climbing plants on the walls and shuttered windows. This is the Rome that many of us imagine prior to visiting. Coronari will end on the street that becomes Ponte Sant’Angelo, so you will not get lost on this street.
Written 1 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ex Pat wannabe
San Francisco, CA1 contribution
Apr 2019 • Couples
Not sure why this is so highly rated. It's small, uninteresting and overpriced. Although you are technically underground I suppose, it doesn't feel like it, it feels like the lower level of a large office building. There's just a couple rooms, a few ruined steps and arches to the old stadium, a few poster boards with a lot of text, a couple videos on loop and some stuff about emperors and Popes. You can see pretty much everything there is too see from the sidewalk above. There are so many more cool and exciting things to do and places to see in Rome, don't waste your time or your 8.5 euros.
Written 23 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback, we will do our best to improve our service.
Written 23 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IliaUK
UK153 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
With so many other attractions in Rome, you won't miss much by skipping this one. You can actually see a good chunk of it from the outside balcony, without getting in. Basically, it is a [very] small section of the ancient stadium for athletic and cultural competitions that lies underneath Piazza Navona. Apart form a few sculptures, it is filled mostly with replicas of various gladiator costumes and weapons - which may be interesting, but rather odd, given that gladiator contests were not held here at all, but at the Colloseum. Maybe they felt the need to have something more to justify the entry fee, which seemed a bit excessive for what was actually there. As I said, just have a look in from the balcony on the street level, and give it a miss...
Written 16 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Spanish Steps Apartment
Rome, Italy35,579 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
For years, all that one could see of what used to be the enormous Stadium of Domitian was the top of one arch, hidden behind Piazza Navona (which is actually built over the ancient stadium). In January 2014, a new museum opened to allow you access to more of the archaeological site. It's a small museum, priced at 3 euros, and lets you wander through a section of the remains of the stadium, with arches, pillars, stairs, and a few remains of statues which once decorated the stadium. This is all several meters below today's ground level. There is an educational video showing you what it once was like and placing it in context. There are also educational posters (in Italian and English) throughout the area on both the stadium and other important monuments in Rome. The museum was open until 8 p.m. this Saturday night, and when we went at 6:30 p.m., we had the place to ourselves.
Written 23 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
golden87
Melbourne, Australia67 contributions
Although not on the main list of ‘must do’ Rome attractions, this is certainly a very worthwhile place to visit once you have ticked off all the other main sites.
Only 8.50 euro to get in, can easily spend 1-1.5 hours wandering around, gives a great perspective on the underground ruins and more history of Rome.
Only 8.50 euro to get in, can easily spend 1-1.5 hours wandering around, gives a great perspective on the underground ruins and more history of Rome.
Written 11 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thanks 😊
Written 20 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SUZANNE P
Slidell, LA29 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
An easy to understand guide to the Roman stadium upon which the current Piazza Navona is built. It made a complex subject easy understood. Most impressive is that the stadium design is replicated across the world today. Also impressive were the Roman engineering feats.
Written 22 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks
Written 22 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Toby R
20 contributions
It is not every day that you get to stand in a place with such historical significance and one that dates back to over 2000 years ago! Given that it is a UNESCO world heritage site, it is not a well-publicized attraction. We had walked past it several times with no clue of what we were walking over (the ruins are underground), until a local mentioned it to us. At 8 euros per person that included an audio guide, it was very reasonable. You could plan on spending 30-45 minutes. As an added bonus, the place has clean restrooms!
Written 13 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thank you.
Written 23 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Per fare una visita di sabato pomeriggio, pensate sia necessario comprare il biglietto in anticipo, oppure lo posso comprare direttamente lì? Normalmente si trova posto? Grazie a chi risponderà :)
Written 12 November 2018
StadioDomiziano
Rome, Italy
Buona sera,
può comprare il biglietto direttamente qui da noi il giorno della visita, siamo aperti dalle 10 alle 19 orario continuato.
A presto
Written 13 November 2018
i am interested in attending a concert that will take place at the stadio di domiziano, with my elderly mother (87). is the seating comfortable ? is it totally outside ? cold/windy at night ? what happens if it rains ?
thanks
Written 16 March 2016
Hi Sarahpol. I have similar questions to yours. Did you make your trip? And did you fo to this concert?
Written 30 October 2016
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