Yes, you must visit Piazza Navona when you go to Rome. We knew nothing about this place when we visited the first time and found ourselves constantly looking things up. If you have a few days to spend in Rome or maybe just a few hours, this is by far one of our favorite spots to visit in the city. We have come up with 25 useful Piazza Navona facts for you to know before you go.
1. Location
Located in the downtown core of Rome, Piazza Navona is a little hidden. There are no nearby Metro or transit stations. However, if you find yourself at the Pantheon, you are only a 5-minute walk to this stunning square.
2. Opening Hours
Piazza Navona is open 24 hours a day to the public, so no need to worry about what time the square opens and closes. The only thing you need to be aware of is that the restaurants and cafés do not open until 9:00 am, and most will close once things get quiet at night.
3. Admission
There is no admission fee in order to enter Piazza Navona so you can come and go as you please!
4. What Does Piazza Navona Mean in Italian?
The direct translation to English is Navona Square. The piazza (or square) got its name from the games and competitions that went on there years and years ago. Initially, the games were called gone, and over time, the name changed to in avone, navone, and finally navona.
5. One of Rome’s Most Beautiful Squares
Personally, we think one of the most important Piazza Navona facts is that it’s Rome’s most beautiful square! The second you arrive, you’re greeted with live music, Italian charm, and an atmosphere that will draw you in. Then, it will finally seem like you are on vacation in Italy.
6. When was Piazza Navona built?
Piazza Navona started as a stadium (Stadio di Domiziano) in 86 AD. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the stadium was transformed into the Piazza Navona we know today.
7. Stadio di Domiziano
This stadium was commissioned by the Roman emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus as a gift to the people of Rome in 86 AD. The stadium’s English name is Stadium of Domitian or Circus Agonalis. The purpose of the stadium was for athletics and physical fitness contests, specifically gymnastics, running, fighting, and boxing. At that time, it was believed the stadium could seat 30,000 spectators.
Part of the stadium still remains today, right below Piazza Navona. And yes, you can visit the archaeological area.
8. Why is Piazza Navona Famous?
Piazza Navona is famous for its beautiful architecture, fountains, cafés, and restaurants. It is also where some famous movies were filmed – Angels and Demons, Catch-22 and National Lampoons European Vacation, to name a few. This, of course, is what Liam thinks is the most important Piazza Navona fact!
9. How Long Should You Spend in Piazza Navona?
We would recommend setting aside at least one hour, if not more, for Piazza Navona. You’ll likely sit down for a drink, bite to eat, and end up there for the whole afternoon/evening (at least that’s what happened to us)! We definitely suggest eating (and people-watching) here! We planned to go to the square for dinner, were there for about three hours, and returned the next day for gelato and more people-watching!
10. Piazza Navona Restaurants
There are so many restaurants for you to choose from in Piazza Navona. The whole square is full of family-run spots. All of the restaurants look out into the square to ensure that you can easily people-watch.
With so many restaurants, how do you decide which one to choose? We suggest just walking around the square and seeing if any of the restaurants and menus catch your eye. Piazza Navona is a great place to go for dinner because there is always live music playing at night. Also, all of the restaurants usually have their menus and prices listed outside.
11. It’s also a Great Spot to Have a Drink
If it’s been a long day of looking at monuments and museums or you just need to sit down for a little, this is the spot! With all the restaurants and cafés offering outdoor and indoor seating, it’s the perfect place to sit and relax with a glass (or bottle) of wine!
12. ..And People Watch
This is probably our favourite of all the Piazza Navona facts. As you may have guessed, we love to people-watch, and this is by far one of the best places in the world to do so! In Piazza Navona, you can watch all the “crazy” tourists, listen to the servers yelling (or joking) with each other, and try to guess what vendors have a license when the police come. The best part, all of this is complete with live music, a delicious plate of pasta, and a glass of wine!
13. Gelato in Piazza Navona
If you are looking for a quick treat while you walk around Piazza Navona, there are two Gelaterias we recommend trying. The first is in the Piazza itself, Gelateria Tre Fontane is located on the north end of Piazza Navona. However, if you are willing to walk for a couple of minutes, we recommend Gelateria Della Palma. They have 150 different gelato flavours to choose from but prepare yourself for a small line.
14. There are Street Artists Galore!
There are a lot of local street artists painting pictures of everything from the Colosseum to family portraits. Most of the time, the artists are physically painting right there, and you can see your new painting come to life! We recommend checking out the work or even purchasing a piece for yourself!
15. Be Careful Buying a Purse or Wallet
Buyer Beware! Every time we go to Piazza Navona, without fail, someone is selling a fake designer purse or wallet, but please don’t be fooled! These often look like the real thing, with only minor differences than that of the real ones. Of course, you should never believe what the vendor is telling you; they are still fake!
16. But Piazza Navona Does Have Some Great Souvenirs
You already know about fake purses and hand-painted portraits, but there is so much more! Piazza Navona has every souvenir you can think of, from magnets and bags to sunglasses and key chains – the list goes on! Therefore, this Piazza is your one-stop shop for souvenirs.
17. There’s Free Wi-Fi
Who doesn’t love free Wi-Fi? This is likely one of the most important Piazza Navona facts. All the restaurants have free Wi-Fi, and the signals are usually very strong. Sometimes the networks are even open! If you require a password, there are two options: go sit down and get a drink or bite to eat or try to guess the password (we found a lot were the restaurant name with the current year).
18. …And Stunning Architecture
This is the place to go in Rome to see some incredible architecture from Bernini and Borromini. Bernini designed and created the fountains that currently sit in the square, and Borromini designed the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. These are the main architectural attractions in the piazza.
19. How Many Fountains are in Piazza Navona?
This may be one of the more obvious Piazza Navona facts, but there are three fountains in the square, with each having its own unique features. The three fountains are called Fontana del Moro, Fontana del Nettuno, and Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
20. Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Sitting directly in the middle of Piazza Navona, this fountain cannot be missed! It was designed by Gian Bernini for Pope Innocent X and is made primarily of travertine rock to support the main statues and obelisk. The four statues represent the four most important rivers in the continents where Christianity thrived at that time. These rivers were the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Rio de la Plata. This is why the fountain received its name the Fountain of the Four Rivers. Sitting right in the middle is an obelisk that was previously in the Circus of Maxentius.
21. Fontana del Moro
This fountain is better known as the Fountain of the Moor. It was created by one of Michelangelo’s students, Giacomo della Porta. Later, Gian Bernini added the statue of the Moor with the permission of Pope Innocent X. You can see it is a Moor standing in a conch shell wrestling a dolphin. Another one of our favourite Piazza Navona facts is that the statue that currently sits here is actually a replica! In 1874, the original was moved to the Galleria Borghese. This was for a good reason, too, because in 2011, the statue was damaged with a hammer.
21. Fontana del Nettuno
The English translation of this fountain is the Neptune Fountain. The reason it received this name is that there is a sculpture of Neptune fighting an octopus. When first built, this fountain didn’t have statues and was named Fontana dei Calderari because it was located close to many blacksmiths’ workshops, all generating heat.
23. “Egyptian” Obelisk
Commonly believed to be an Egyptian obelisk, this one is actually not Egyptian at all! The Roman emperor, Domitian, commissioned it to be built sometime between 81 and 96 AD. The obelisk was displayed in the Circus of Maxentius until it broke and eventually was buried for centuries. It wasn’t until 1649 that Pope Innocent X decided to dig up the obelisk and put it on display in Piazza Navona.
24. Piazza Navona Church
The church of Sant’Agnese in Agone opens its doors directly into Piazza Navona. The creation and construction of the church were started by the Rainaldi brothers in 1652, but they were eventually fired. Borromini took over from 1653 to 1657 until he decided to abandon the project. Later, Carlo Rainaldi was called upon to complete the work he originally started. Then in 1667, Bernini was commissioned to complete the finishing work on the inside of the church. With all the different architects working on this one building, it is interesting to see how their Baroque designs came together!
Read More
3 Days in Rome Itinerary – Free Guide with Map
41 Instagrammable Spots in Rome
25. Other Things to Do Near Piazza Navona
If your starting point is Piazza Navona, there are all kinds of incredible places to visit (that are relatively close). If you’re looking for more information on these spots, we recommend reading our 3 Days in Rome Itinerary!
Pantheon
5-minute walk
The Pantheon is one of the most preserved buildings in all of Rome. When created, this temple was dedicated to all the Gods of Rome. Today, the dome of the Pantheon remains the largest unsupported dome in the world. A must-see in Rome!
Trevi Fountain
12-minute walk
Notably, one of the most beautiful fountains in the world, the Trevi Fountain, should be on your list during the day and at night to see it lit up!
Vittorio Emanuele II Monument/Altare della Patria
15-minute walk
Nicknamed the Wedding Cake for its obscure design and white marble, this monument was built in honour of the first King of Italy. It is also home to the eternal flame of the unknown soldier.
Spanish Steps
17-minute walk
The Spanish Steps were built between 1723 and 1725 to link the Trinita dei Monti Church with the Spanish Square below. The Spanish steps are currently one of the longest and widest staircases in all of Europe!
Colosseum
30-minute walk
Created as a gift to the Roman people, the Colosseum is surely on everyone’s list to visit. It is the largest amphitheatre in the Roman world, with endless history.
We hope that you find this information helpful!
Do you have any other Piazza Navona facts that we missed?! Let us know!
