Piazza Navona

A Roman relic that's still a hub of daily life

Word to the wise: Visit during the winter months, when Piazza Navona's Christmas market bursts into life.
Noteworthy for: The churches here are filled with the likes of Caravaggio and Rubens.

Tipple of choice: Try some of what is arguably Rome's best espresso from Sant’Eustachio Cafe.
Big, beautiful and baroque, Piazza Navona is a magnificent monument to old Rome. Boasting three lavish and spectacular fountains, the surrounding palaces are rich in elegance and glamour of the most coveted kind.

The piazza owes its oval shape to its origin as a first century stadium for athletics contests and chariot races. Now, the most energetic pursuits to be seen here are when coins are tossed into the water or visitors lift their martinis at one of the many expensive bars and cafes lining the square.
Bernini’s elaborate Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), created in 1651 for Pope Innocent X, provides a fitting centrepiece, its diverse facets reflected in the colourful hustle and bustle that surrounds. Artists gather to paint portraits, street entertainers provide gasps and laughter, and vendors sell their wares.

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