Piazza Navona

The Piazza Navona, in Rome

The Piazza Navona is one of the finest baroque squares of Rome, adorned with the fountains of Bernini. The Rome audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this jewel of the town, laid out on a former ancient stadium, animated by artists, cafés and sumptuous monuments.

The baroque jewel and the fountains of Bernini

Arriving on this immense practically closed square, you immediately feel that you are facing one of the jewels of Rome. The Piazza Navona is the finest baroque square of the town and one of the most prized. Its so characteristic elongated form is explained by its origin: it occupies the location of the former Stadium of Domitian, where the sports competitions took place in Antiquity, and it has embraced its layout. In the seventeenth century, the square was magnificently redeveloped in the baroque style. In its centre stands the masterpiece of Bernini, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, whose monumental statues represent the great rivers of four continents, topped with an Egyptian obelisk. Two other fountains complete the ensemble, and the square is dominated by the façade of the church of Sant'Agnese, work of Borromini, the great rival of Bernini. Animated by cafés, terraces, painters and musicians, the Piazza Navona is an effervescent place of life. A must-see baroque jewel, the Piazza Navona is a major stop of the discovery of Rome.

What to see

Here you enjoy the finest baroque square of Rome, with an elongated form inherited from the former Stadium of Domitian, redeveloped in the seventeenth century, adorned in its centre with the masterpiece of Bernini, the Fountain of the Four Rivers topped with an obelisk, completed by two other fountains and dominated by the church of Sant'Agnese by Borromini, animated by artists and cafés. The Piazza Navona is a jewel of Rome. It is a major stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Piazza Navona lies in the heart of the old town of Rome, reachable on foot. It is a freely accessible public space; the cafés, terraces and the surrounding church have their own hours. The square is lively at any hour, and particularly lively in the evening.

Why does the Piazza Navona have this elongated form in Rome?

Because it occupies the location of the former Stadium of Domitian, where the sports competitions took place in Antiquity, whose layout it has embraced; redeveloped in the seventeenth century, it is adorned with the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini and dominated by the church of Sant'Agnese by Borromini.

Where is the Piazza Navona in Rome?

In the heart of the old town of Rome, in Italy.