Piazza Navona is often called the most beautiful and romantic square in Rome, and it is easy to see why. Ringed by three famous fountains, this lively pedestrian square sits at the very heart of the city, and lingering over a coffee while watching the street artists is part of the romance of a Rome trip.
Around 85 AD, Emperor Domitian built a stadium here for Greek-style athletic training and games. It measured about 275 meters by 106 meters and held around 30,000 spectators. Like many Roman ruins, it lay abandoned until the early 17th century, when the stadium’s track was reborn as the square. Pope Innocent X, wanting to show off his family’s Pamphilj palace on the square, had the old church of Sant’Agnese rebuilt in grand style, a project completed by the Baroque master Borromini.
An obelisk rises over the Fountain of the Four Rivers at the center of Piazza Navona.
The Moor Fountain, a work by Bernini, stands at one end of the square.
At the other end, the Neptune Fountain shows the sea god wrestling a giant octopus.
The square was full of street artists. Some dressed up in costume, others played music, all earning coins from the crowd, and portrait painters were everywhere, like a little Montmartre.
We took group photos at the Neptune Fountain.
And more group photos at the Moor Fountain.
There was even a nativity scene with the baby Jesus set up on the square.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in January 2008 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.