About This Location
Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s most famous squares, long and oval in shape because it was built on top of the ancient Stadium of Domitian. The curve of the space still follows the old track where public games once took place. In the 1600s, the square became a showpiece of Baroque Rome, tied closely to Pope Innocent X and the Pamphilj family. The biggest landmark is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in the center, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651. Four river gods represent major rivers of the known continents, and above them rises the obelisk that gives the fountain its dramatic height. At the southern end is the Fontana del Moro, fed by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct and placed in front of Palazzo Pamphilj. It began as a late-1500s fountain by Giacomo della Porta, later reworked with Bernini’s involvement to match the new Baroque mood of the square. At the northern end is the Fontana del Nettuno. Its basin dates to the late 1500s, but the dramatic sculpture of Neptune fighting an octopus and the surrounding sea figures were added in the 1800s to give the square a balanced “three-fountain” layout. Facing the fountains is the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, closely linked to the Pamphilj project for the square. Construction began in 1652 under the Rainaldi architects, with major work by Borromini. Its twin towers and dome dominate the west side and make a strong backdrop for the central fountain. Next to the church stands Palazzo Pamphilj, built as the family residence and still one of the key buildings framing the square. Since 1960 it has housed the Embassy of Brazil, and it is famous for the richly decorated gallery frescoed by Pietro da Cortona in the 1650s. Today, Piazza Navona is also a living stage. The open space fills with cafés, artists, and street performers, and the long shape makes it easy to take in the whole scene from one end to the other. It is one of the best places in Rome to feel how ancient layout and Baroque design still guide the city’s daily rhythm.