On the west side of Piazza Navona, Chiesa di Sant'Agnese in Agone is a Baroque church built on a site associated with Saint Agnes’s martyrdom. Pause outside to take in Francesco Borromini’s concave façade, designed so the dome remains visible from the square. Inside, look for coloured marble, sculpture, gold details and Ciro Ferri’s painting of the Triumph of Heaven on the dome. The crypt preserves the older sacred layer of the site and is associated with the story of Saint Agnes’s miracle.
A church shaped by Piazza Navona
Sant’Agnese in Agone stands on the west side of Piazza Navona, on ground associated with the ancient Stadium of Domitian. The square and church share a close history: the church was rebuilt as part of the Pamphilj family’s plans for the piazza, beside their palace.
Work began in 1652 under Pope Innocent X. Girolamo and Carlo Rainaldi produced the first design, and Francesco Borromini took over in 1653. He reshaped the façade into its distinctive concave curve and added two lateral bell towers. The curve draws attention towards the centre of the church and makes the dome more prominent from the square. After Borromini left the project, Carlo Rainaldi completed the work, retaining the façade’s curved design while modifying the dome.
The interior and the crypt
Inside, coloured marble, sculpture and painted decoration fill the church. Sculptural works dedicated to martyred saints are arranged around the interior, including at four altars set into semi-circular niches in the pillars. Above, Ciro Ferri’s painting of the Triumph of Heaven covers the dome.
The crypt marks the older sacred layer beneath the Baroque church. The site is linked by tradition to Saint Agnes’s martyrdom, and the crypt is associated with the story that her hair miraculously covered her nakedness. The church itself is free to enter; the crypt may require a separate fee.
Häufige Fragen
Is Sant'Agnese in Agone free to enter?
Entry to the church is free. The crypt may have a separate fee.
Where is Sant'Agnese in Agone?
It stands on the west side of Piazza Navona in Rome.
What should I look for inside the church?
See the marble and sculpture, the painted decoration and Ciro Ferri’s dome painting, the Triumph of Heaven.
Is Sant'Agnese in Agone open on Mondays?
No. The church is closed on Mondays.
