Essential Guide — Piazza Navona
In this article, we present you all you need to know before visiting the famous Piazza Navona.
Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Rome, with the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, topped by the Obelisk of Domitian, that you see in so many movies.
Iconic and full of history, Piazza Navona is a place that you can not miss in Rome!
What is Piazza Navona?
Piazza Navona is a public, historical square in the center of Rome.
It is free to visit and it has many monuments and statues that make it a real open-air museum and one of the most visited squares in Rome.
The square is very distinctive thanks to its Baroque Architecture.
Where is Piazza Navona?
Piazza Navona is located in Rome city center, in the neighborhood called Rione Parione.
It is close to other important attractions, like: Campo de’Fiori (just across the road), Pantheon (5 min away), Piazza Venezia (10 min away) and Trevi Fountain (15 min away).
You can reach Piazza Navona on foot from the city center or you can get one of the many buses running along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II: 30, 60, 62, 81, 87.
What is so special about Piazza Navona?
Piazza Navona is obviously a stunning square!
It is large, airy, framed by stunning buildings and it features important sculptural creations.
The square was built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian and follows the form of the open space of the stadium
Also, Piazza Navona is home of several legends and stories.
What to see in Piazza Navona?
The Fountain of the 4 Rivers
Piazza Navona has 3 fountains, but the most famous is The Fountain of the 4 Rivers, located in the center of the square and created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The fountain represents the 4 biggest rivers in the world, each in human form: the Nile, the Gange, the Rio de la Plata, and the Danube.
Church of Sant’ Agnese in Agone
In front of the beautiful fountains, towers the Baroque church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, designed by architect Borromini.
The building of the church was begun in 1652 at the instigation of Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, is adjacent to this church. The church was to be effectively a family chapel annexed to their residence (for example, an opening was formed in the drum of the dome so the family could participate in the religious services from their palace).
Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno
There are two more fountains in Piazza Navona, Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno, both designed by Dalla Porta. They are both beautiful and also very important, representing a special event that used to take place between 1652 and 1886: the turning of Piazza Navona into a lake!
The careful flooding of Piazza Navona happened for the first time in June 1652 and quickly became a favorite city event. This tradition stopped when Rome became the capital of Italy.
Palazzo Braschi
One of the most interesting buildings in Piazza Navona is Palazzo Braschi, now hosting the museum of Rome.
This is an amazing building, with impressive ceilings and old photos of the city, including a reconstruction of the Trevi fountain made of cork.
This is a unique museum and it is definitely worth visiting.
If you liked our article, join us and let’s visit Piazza Navona together! Check below tours and book your spot now, to see the most beautiful square of Rome!
