Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

Car-free Piazza Navona offers more open space than any other square in Rome. During the day, pigeons fly through the sky, creating a leisurely scene. At night, well-dressed gentlemen and ladies, along with tourists, stroll through the square, joined by street performers and portrait artists hoping to earn money from them. Especially from early December to January 6th, during the Feast of the Epiphany, the square is filled with stalls selling Christmas decorations and toys, making it a traditional winter festival in Rome since the Middle Ages.

Piazza Navona is elongated in shape because it was the site of chariot races during ancient Roman times. It is said that during the Middle Ages, the square was entirely filled with water and used for splashing around and boating. The square also features three fountains that harmonize beautifully with the surrounding architecture: the Fountain of Neptune, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the Fountain of the Moor. The central Fountain of the Four Rivers, designed by Bernini, represents the four great rivers of the world— the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube, and the Río de la Plata— with four statues encircling an obelisk. Bernini and Borromini, who designed the nearby Sant’Agnese in Agone church in front of the fountain, were both leading figures of the Baroque movement active at the time.