Piazza Navona

During the Christmas season Piazza Navona is packed with stalls selling toys, sweets and decorations for the Nativity scene or Christmas tree, making it a favorite spot for children. Its unusual shape recalls the time of Domitian, who built a stadium for equestrian displays here. The Fountain of the Rivers, with the obelisk, and the Fountain of the Moor, with the God of the Sea, at the center of the square, are both sculpted by Bernini.

Piazza Navona (Navona Square) was founded in the place of the Stadium Domutiun that Romans called Circus Agonalis (Competition Square) for the games (agones) that were taking place here. Starting from the 15th century the Piazza that has a perfect rectangle shape was initially used for a city market, and then as a place for theatrical performance and horse races.

Now Piazza Navona is home for three fountains. The most famous one is the Fountain of Four Rivers, the masterpiece of Gianlorenzo Bernini built in the 17th century. The Fountain is built around the Egyptian obelisk and generally consists of four sculptures of River Gods that represent four main rivers of the world: Nole in Africa, Ganges in Asia, Danube in Europe and Rio de la Plata in America.

Around Piazza Navona there are a number of expensive cafes and restaurants. During the day and at night you can find here a lot of street musicians, jugglers or other performers.