Insiders Guide to Piazza Navona Rome

Piazza Navona is a square in Rome, Italy. The piazza follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus - the 1st century Stadium of Domitian, where the Romans came to watch the games. It was known as 'Circus Agonalis' back then, but over time the name changed to 'navona' - hence Piazza Navona.

Piazza Navona is now the pride of Baroque Rome, with sculptural and architectural creations by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Francesco Borromini, Girolamo Rainaldi, and Pietro da Cortona, who painted the Pamphilj palace gallery.

Some of the famous monuments near the square are:

  • The church of Sant'Agnese in Agone
  • The famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers, 1651)
  • Stabilimenti Spagnoli
  • Palazzo de Cupis
  • Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti
  • Church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore
  • Palazzo Braschi (Museo di Roma)

Piazza Navona contains two additional fountains sculpted by Giacomo della Porta — the Fontana di Nettuno (1574), located at the northern area of Piazza Navona, and the Fontana del Moro (1576), located at the southern end of the piazza.

The piazza was featured in Dan Brown's 2000 thriller Angels and Demons, in which the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was listed as one of the Altars of Science.

If you'd like to stay in the Piazza Navona Rome area, why not browse our selection of Piazza Navona Apartments available for Short-Term Rental - perfect for your vacation, holiday or business trip. We currently have 28 lovely apartments in Piazza Navona available for rent - why stay in one of the  Piazza Navona hotels in the area when you can enjoy your own private apartment instead!

Piazza Navona Rome photoPiazza Navona Atmosphere

By day the Piazza Navona area is buzzing with local Romans and tourists. The streets surrounding Piazza Navona are full of interesting small boutiques and at night the area's restaurants and bars are filled by a mix of all age groups enjoying the street cafes.

If you fancy buying art, many local artists expose their work in the evenings in Piazza Navona. Most of them offer tacky representations of Roman places and monuments, but a talented few will catch your eye.  Via Coronari is in this area and is famous for its antique shops.

The area is also a five minute walk to Campo de' Fiori and should you wish to make use of the kitchen in your Piazza Navona apartment, this area is perfect for the purchase of the best fresh produce Rome has to offer.  

Transport in & out of Piazza Navona Rome

Bus:  Piazza Navona is well connected to Rome's fairly efficient bus system on Corso Vittorio Emanuele that divides Piazza Navona with Campo de' Fiori. The small electric bus service, no. 116 also travels through close by on its way to the Spanish Steps area. 

Metro: Piazza Navona is not close to a metro station, however with the new Metro C line being built and planned to begin in 2011, the metro stop will be close by at Chiesa Nuova. 

Taxi: There is a cab rank - one of Rome's largest - close by as well at Largo Torre Argentina.

Car: Information on keeping your rental car in Rome

As with all of the Historic Centre of Rome, most attractions are within a short walking distance .

 

 

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