Piazza Navona

★ 4.7 (217,015)Free

The piazza's elongated oval shape traces the outline of the 1st-century Stadium of Domitian that once stood here, and the buried arena arches can still be visited beneath the square. Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi anchors the center, facing off according to popular legend against Borromini's façade for the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. By day it's full of street artists and portrait painters; by evening the surrounding cafés and restaurants take over, making it one of the liveliest spots in the historic center. It suits a slow wander and a coffee more than a checklist visit.

✨ Reasons to go

1The piazza's oval shape follows the outline of the 1st-century Stadium of Domitian, whose buried arena arches survive underground and can be toured separately.
2Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi sits at the center, with a popular legend claiming it was designed to rival Borromini's facade for Sant'Agnese in Agone across the square.

💡 Good to know

1Sit at a café for the atmosphere but expect tourist-inflated prices
2visit early morning for photos without the crowds
3the underground Stadio di Domiziano ruins can be visited separately for a look at what's beneath the square.

⏱️ Typical visit

25 min

🚶 Walking intensity

Easy pace

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Address

Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · RomaGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"Piazza Navona is one of my favorite squares in Rome. It is always full of people, street artists, and beautiful architecture. What many visitors do not realize is that this area was built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, where athletic competitions were held nearly 2,000 years ago. The long shape of the square still follows the outline of the old stadium. Today it is a great place to walk around, have a coffee, and enjoy the atmosphere while being surrounded by layers of Roman history"

— Serdar Arslan

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