Piazza Navona Rome
The beautiful Piazza Navona was originally laid over the ruins of an ancient stadium, a portion of which can still be seen at the north end of the piazza, and from which the piazza takes its name.

Today Piazza Navona is a popular gathering place for Romans and tourists alike. Take time to relax on one of the stone benches and watch the artists who gather in the piazza do their work, have your "tarocchi" (tarot cards) read, or enjoy a drink at one of the outdoor cafes, such as Tre Scalini.

Three fountains adorn the piazza, the central one being Bernini's masterpiece, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) depicting the Nile, Ganges, Danube and the Rio Plata. The fountain took four years to build and was completed in 1651.

In the center of the piazza facing the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is the Chiesa di Sant'Agnese in Agone, its facade designed by Bernini's bitter rival, Borromini. Tradition states that the statues of Bernini's Fontana dei Fiumi are shielding their eyes in disgust from the sight of Borromini's church, but the truth is that the fountain was completed before the church was even begun.