Here we have the façade of the extraordinary Church of Sant'Agnes in Agone in Rome, one of the most valuable projects by Borromini! It is not just one of the wonders of the Navona Square, because there are several things to know about it...

Its curved lines and its sweet dynamism are unmistakable, but in addition its story affects, still today are able to amaze. Initially the idea of creating a church that faces onto the Piazza Navona came from Pope Innocent X Pamphilj, who commissioned the building of the adjacent palace as a home for himself and his family. We are in the middle of the XVII century. The architects to whom was entrusted the project were Girolamo and Carlo Rainaldi, who were two relatives who represented a school of art still tied to the Renaissance. Their project, in fact, foresaw the mighty walls, with a few decorations, and with the central part of the façade overhanging a lot on the square. Shortly after the Pope didn't like this project, so much that in the race entrusted the work to Borromini. Even he, however, didn't see the end of the work, because of his character! It was common knowledge in Rome that the architect had a sometimes bad attitudes, so much so that every day he could argue with the workers, his aides or the purchasers, as happened on this occasion. So much so that one day Borromini left the site construction in order to don't come back anymore. 

The works were completed by Rainaldi, in particular Charles, who could no longer carry heavy modifications, since the works were in a very advanced state. What conceived, Borromini is under everybody's eyes: a concave facade, built specifically to better highlight the extraordinary dome. It's also awesome how you could almost be fooled by the bulk of the façade of the church, however refined and slender, by the presence of two small towers. Entering the building, indeed, you can really be impressed observing the intimacy of the church from the octagonal shape and the spaces that almost invite us to raise our eyes to heaven, to admire the splendid fresco by Ciro Ferri and Corbellini depicting the Glory of St. Agnes. A riot of colors and bodies in motion that almost disorientating but that are able to astonish us.  it is another example of the Baroque style of Rome, a way to paint architectonical surfaces, mainly vaults or domes, that used to depict a sort of infinity: the figures, the clouds and the lights are showing us a great sense of infinity, as the roof doesn't exist. A wonderful and gorgeus illusionism and perspective that, for example, could be seen in the Basilica of Saint Ignatius (click here to read the article). 

Another curiosity about the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone of Rome is this: the church had an opening space on an inner wall side, which faced directly into the bedroom of the pope, and the site in the adjacent building. In this way, pope Innocent X could not attend the public functions directly from the...bed!