f11photo/DepositphotosPiazza Navona is one of Rome’s most beautiful squares, located right in the historic center. Its unique long, oval shape, brimming with Baroque art and architecture, makes it the perfect place to go for a stroll and soak in the Roman ambiance.
Highlights
What to See & Do (Pictures)
Piazza Navona is the perfect place to enjoy a ‘passeggiata’ (a stroll) as you munch on a gelato and take in the incredible sights. Here are just a few things that are unmissable.
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers)
florin1961/DepositphotosThe largest and most impressive of the three fountains, this Baroque masterpiece, sculpted by famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is located right in the center of the square and topped by a Roman copy of an Egyptian obelisk.
The four giant statues, made of white marble, are allegorical representations of great rivers, one from each of the four continents known at the time. They are:
The Danube, representing Europe, sits closest to the papal crest (since he’s the nearest to the Vatican).
The Rio de la Plata has his arm raised and is surrounded by coins, which symbolize the riches brought back to the Vatican from the Americas.
The Nile, sitting next to the lion and the palm tree (other symbols of Africa), has a cloth over his face because, at the time, its source was still unknown.
The Ganges (Asia) carries an oar in his hand because it was considered an easy river to navigate.
Pexels License LUIS ANTONIO FUNCIA/PexelsFontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor)
BY-NC-ND 2.0 Generic ooitschristina/FlickrThis fountain, which can be viewed on the south side of the square, was designed by Giacomo della Porta, who sculpted the pink marble basin and four triton statues in 1575. Eight years later, Bernini added the statue of the moor standing atop a giant shell and wrestling with a dolphin.
Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)
BY-SA 2.0 Generic daryl_mitchell/FlickrLocated at the Northern end of the piazza, this fountain features a sculpture of the Roman god of the sea, Neptune, entangled in a fight with an octopus. They are surrounded by statues of nymphs, seahorses, and cupids.
Although the original pink marble basin was designed in 1575 by Giacomo della Porta, the actual statues weren’t added until the nineteenth century, and that was in order to create a balance with the ‘Fontana del Moro’.
Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone
Pexels License Federica Amerio/PexelsThis church, built on the site of Agnes’ martyrdom, was designed by Francesco Borromini, the most daring architect of the Roman Baroque, and is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Rome.
If you peek inside, you’ll be dazzled by the extravagant and prolific ornamentation, but the facade of the church is actually the main draw. Its unique and balanced design would go on to inspire many different buildings of the later Baroque period.
Palazzo Braschi
This lavish palace, designed by Cosimo Morelli in the Neoclassical style, is now home to the Museum of Rome (Museo di Roma). Its permanent collection covers the history of Rome from the 15th to the 19th centuries and it also hosts temporary exhibitions as well.
Apart from the collections, one of the main draws of the museum is to see its ornately decorated interiors with its tempera paintings and delicately crafted stuccoes. Don’t miss out on the magnificent staircase designed by Giuseppe Valadier, one of its defining features!
BY 2.0 Generic Bradley Weber/FlickrHow to Get There
Piazza Navona is located in the historic center of Rome and is easily accessible by foot from other nearby sites, such as the Pantheon (5 minutes), Campo de’ Fiori (5 min.), and Castel Sant’Angelo (10 min.).
- Metro: Unfortunately, there are no stops close to the square. The nearest stations are ‘Spagna’ and ‘Barberini’, on Line A. Both are a 15-20 minute walk away.
- Bus: The best way to reach the square by public transport is by bus. Some buses that bring you to nearby stops are:
- 40, 64 – Argentina
- 81, 87, 70, 492 – Rinascimento
- Tram: Line 8 – Arenula/Cairoli (12 min. walk)
Map & Address (Location)
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · Google Maps
Did You Know That: 4 Interesting Facts
- During the holiday season, Piazza Navona hosts Rome’s biggest Christmas market. If you happen to be here during this period, you can’t miss it.
- The square gets its name ‘Navona’, meaning ‘big ship’, from its peculiar and unique shape, which resembles the hollow profile of a ship.
- For over two centuries (1651-1867), the square would be flooded every weekend in August, Rome’s most scorching month. The little lake would then host staged naval battles for the entertainment of the aristocracy.
- Bernini and Borromini’s rivalry is the stuff of legend. It’s said that Bernini purposely designed one of the river god statues to have one hand raised in alarm in the direction of Borromini’s church as if scared that the building might collapse on him.
History
Piazza Navona is Rome’s most theatrical square, built atop an ancient stadium and filled with Baroque masterpieces. Its elongated oval shape preserves the outline of the racetrack that once stood here nearly 2,000 years ago.
1st century CE
The Stadium of Domitian, known as the ‘Circus Agonalis’ (competition arena), was built on this site. It hosted popular athletic games and contests, giving the piazza its distinctive long, oval shape.
After the fall of Rome
The stadium was abandoned and used only as a quarry for building materials.
1400s
The square was revived and became the location of the city market.
1600s
Pope Innocent X (of the prominent Pamphili family) transformed the square into the Baroque beauty it is today. He commissioned both Bernini and Borromini and arranged construction of the Pamphilj Palace.
1700s
Over a century later, Pope Pius VI commissioned Palazzo Braschi.
1800s
The square was paved with the famous Roman cobblestones called ‘sampietrini’.
Present day
The piazza is a vibrant and bustling place, filled with street artists, surrounded by lively cafes, and enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
FAQs
Is Piazza Navona free to visit?
Yes. It is an open public square, so you can walk in and see the fountains, the church facade, and the street artists without paying or booking. You only pay if you go into the Museum of Rome at Palazzo Braschi or join a guided route below the square.
Why is Piazza Navona so famous?
It is Rome’s most theatrical Baroque square, built right on top of an ancient stadium. The long oval shape you walk through still follows the racetrack of the Stadium of Domitian from nearly 2,000 years ago. It also holds Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers and a church facade by his great rival Borromini, so two of the biggest names in Baroque Rome face off in one square.
What are the three fountains in Piazza Navona?
The centerpiece is the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, with four marble river gods under a Roman copy of an Egyptian obelisk. At the south end is the Fountain of the Moor, where a figure wrestles a dolphin on a giant shell. At the north end is the Fountain of Neptune, showing the sea god fighting an octopus among nymphs and seahorses.
What is under Piazza Navona?
The ruins of the Stadium of Domitian sit a few meters below street level at the north end, and you can go down to see the surviving arches and stands. Entry is ticketed, so you book it separately from the free square. A guided underground Stadium of Domitian tour takes you below the piazza and explains how the arena once worked.
How much time do you need at Piazza Navona?
About 30 to 45 minutes is enough to walk the square, see all three fountains, and step inside the church. Allow longer if you stop for a coffee, sit by a fountain, or add the Museum of Rome or the underground ruins.
Is the Trevi Fountain at Piazza Navona?
No. The Trevi Fountain is a separate landmark about a 15-minute walk away. The fountains in Piazza Navona are the Four Rivers, the Moor, and Neptune. Both sit in the historic center, so you can see them on the same walk, often along with the nearby Pantheon.