Piazza Navona, Rome

Piazza Navona, Rome

The Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome, built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian.

The Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome, built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian. It was transformed into a Baroque paradise in the 17th century during the pontificate of Innocent X. The bustling plaza perfectly encompasses the spirit of the city, with its striking buildings, elaborate fountains, cozy cafes, and teaming crowds of tourists, buskers, and touts.

At the centre of the square is Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), featuring 4 allegorical figures, each representing a river from a continent - Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio de la Plata, identified by the associated flora and fauna. At the centre is the Egyptian Obelisk of Domitian, which was originally in the Circus of Maxentius near the Appian Way.

At the northern end of the plaza stands the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) by Giacomo della Porta, while the southern end has the Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor) with the figure of a Moor with a dolphin by Bernini, and 4 Tritons by Giacomo della Porta.

The Palazzo Pamphilj in the south-west corner is the piazza's largest building, originally built as a residence for Pope Innocent X, and now home to the Brazilian Embassy. The southern edge is marked by the Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti, a late-Renaissance building designed by Pirro Ligorio. Next to it is the his museum, dedicated to the art and history of the Eternal City, is relatively new by Roman standards. It came into being in the 1950s when various collections were placed on display in the Palazzo Braschi, a 19th century Neoclassical palace that has been used as mayoral residence, Fascist headquarters of Benito Mussolini, and a refugee center. Today it houses the Museo di Roma, which explores the local history of the city from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century through paintings, sculptures, and photographs. Just off the corner is the Pasquino statue from the 3rd century BC, the first of the talking statues of Rome, so named for the tradition of attaching anonymous criticisms to its pedestal.

Towering over the west side of the square is the Sant'Agnese in Agone, a Baroque masterpiece by Francesco Borromini, Girolamo Rainaldi and his son Carlo Rainaldi. It contains the skull of Saint Agnes.

The south-east end of the square has the Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, a Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary that was once used by the Spanish community of Rome.

There are various cafes lining the northern side of the square, where you can sip a cappuccino and admire the vibrant ambience.