Piazza Navona Rome – Guide and Information

Tourist Information for the Navona square in Rome

Piazza Navona, featuring the iconic La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or Fountain of the Four Rivers, is one of the most famous squares in Rome famous for its unique Baroque architecture and vibrant atmosphere.

In this article you will find everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Piazza Navona in Rome – General Information
Location	Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Times	Piazza Navona is always open so you can walk through anytime during the day or in the evening.
Entry	Piazza Navona is free to visit. You may want to opt for a walking tour to get more insight into the famous piazzas and fountains around Rome.

What to see at Piazza Navona Rome

Here’s what you can explore during your visit to Piazza Navona:

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

The famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or Fountain of the Four Rivers, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, makes up the centrepiece of the Piazza. This fountain represents four important rivers: the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges, and the Rio de la Plata.

Obelisk of Domitian

This 16-metre-high obelisk situated on top of the Fountain of the Four Rivers was originally placed at the Circus of Maxentius located on the Via Appia.

Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno

There are also two smaller fountains by Giacomo della Porta: Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor), situated at the southern end of the piazza, contains a distinctive basin and a moorish figure with dolphins and tritons; and Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), located at the northern end and featuring Neptune fighting with a sea monster.

The church of Sant’Agnese in Agone

This Baroque church placed next to the Fountain of the Four Rivers was built by the famous father and son architects Girolamo Rainaldi and Carlo Rainaldi. It was dedicated to St. Agnes and features beautiful architecture, frescoes, and sculptures.

Palazzo Pamphilj

The Pamphili palace, created by Girolamo Rainaldi, is serving as Brazilian embassy (since around 1960). It is full of galleries housing some of Rome’s most beautiful paintings.

The building also has a rooftop accessible to the public, offering 360-degree views of Rome’s skyline.

If you plan to visit, please note that you need to call the Eitch Borromini hotel to book a space, specifying whether you are reserving a table at the restaurant or just the terrace for drinks (+39 06 68215459).

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Interesting Facts about Piazza Navona

Here are some of the interesting facts I learned about Piazza Navona:

• Every Saturday and Sunday in August, Pope Innocent ordered the sewers of the fountains to be closed, causing the water to overflow and transform the piazza into a lake, creating a refreshing spot for Romans to cool-off.

• There’s a popular legend about the rivalry between two major architects of the time: Borromini and Bernini. People say that Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers has some hidden messages in the statues. One of the statues supposedly raises its hand to shield itself from Borromini’s Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, as if it’s worried the church might collapse. Another one has its head covered, like it doesn’t even want to look at Borromini’s work. The statue of Saint Agnes touching her chest is seen by locals as Borromini’s way of reassuring everyone that his church is solid and won’t fall down.

• Piazza Navona has been featured in numerous movies, such as Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, and The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon and Jude Law.

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Walking Tours around Piazza Navona

Do you want to learn more interesting facts about Piazza Navona? If so, you may want to consider booking one of the following walking tours.

Tickets for Piazza Navona Walking Tours

In my opinion, the best way to get an enriching experience is to join a walking tour. Knowledgeable experts provide historical insights and share interesting facts. These tours include not only Piazza Navona but also other famous Roman piazzas like the Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna. Powered by GetYourGuide

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History of Piazza Navona Rome

Before the Piazza Navona was built, the area was originally the Stadium of Domitian. The stadium was commissioned by Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus in around AD 80 and had a unique elongated shape to host various athletic events. The stadium was gradually abandoned and was transformed into a public marketplace years after.

During the Baroque period, Piazza Navona went through numerous renovations under the guidance of Pope Innocent X. The Pope commissioned a few of the most famous artists of the time to re-design sections of the piazza, including fountains, churches and palaces.

In modern times the area has become a popular square with vibrant atmosphere, full of cafes, terraces, and performing artists. There are plenty of places to eat around.

If you are visiting Rome around Christmas time make sure you visit the Piazza as they transform the square into a large Christmas themed market.

You can find further information on the official website.

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Location of the Piazza Navona and How to Get There

The Navona square is located right at the historic centre of Rome so reaching it by foot is fairly easy (just 500 metres from the Pantheon). You can also use any of the following public transportation options:

• Metro: Line A (stop Spagna) or Line B (stop Colosseo).
• Bus: Lines 40, 46, 62, 64, 70, 87, 116, 492, 628, or 916.
• Tram: Line 8 (stop Argentina).

For detailed information about public transport prices and travel passes check out my transport page.

You will also be able to visit Piazza Navona if you have decided to book a Hop-on Hop-off bus in Rome.

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