Piazza Navona
A baroque square built over the ruins of an ancient Roman stadium. Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers faces Borromini's Sant'Agnese church. It is Rome's living room, with street painters and cafés.
The oval shape of Piazza Navona follows the Stadium of Domitian, built in 86 CE by Emperor Domitian. Its underground remains can be visited for a fee. In the 17th century, Pope Innocent X transformed the square into a stage for baroque art. At its center is Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, completed in 1651. Four giant figures represent the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile, and the Río de la Plata, symbolizing the four continents then known, and they support an Egyptian obelisk. Opposite stands Sant'Agnese in Agone, designed by Borromini. The rivalry between the two baroque masters is a legend still told today. The figure of the Nile is said to cover its eyes so as not to see Borromini's church, though in fact the gesture symbolizes the unknown source of the river. The Fountain of the Moor and the Fountain of Neptune stand at the north and south ends. Portrait painters, street performers, and outdoor café tables fill the square year-round. Tre Scalini is known for its 'truffle chocolate ice cream' but is pricey. In December the square hosts Rome's most traditional Christmas market. The square is free and open all day, and it is most atmospheric in the evening when the lights come on. It is in the historic center, 5 minutes from the Pantheon and 5 minutes from Campo de' Fiori, which has a morning market and nightlife. Castel Sant'Angelo is 15 minutes away. The lanes around the square have the densest concentration of restaurants in Rome. Try cacio e pepe and carbonara. Via dei Coronari, on the west side of the square, is an antiques street. Near the north end, Palazzo Altemps houses ancient Roman sculpture. Restaurants on the square often charge tourist prices, so walk two streets into the alleys before choosing a place to eat. Vendors selling roses and bracelets are common.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Spanish Steps
- Campo de' Fiori
- Pantheon
- Church of the Gesù
- Mausoleum of Augustus
- Ara Pacis Museum
- Castel Sant'Angelo
- Tiber Island