Navona

Navona, commonly referred to as Piazza Navona, is a historic public square in the center of Rome, Italy. It occupies the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, known in antiquity as the Circus Agonalis, a venue for athletic contests and public events. In the Middle Ages the area functioned as a marketplace and public gathering space and was often called Campo Vaccino, meaning cow field. The square acquired its current Baroque character in the 17th century, when it was redesigned under papal patronage.

The square is renowned for its three fountains. At the center stands Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), a 1651 work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, crowned by a tall obelisk and adorned with statues representing four major rivers: the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges, and the Rio de la Plata. Flanking the central fountain are two smaller fountains: Fontana del Moro, featuring a Moor wrestling with a dolphin, and Fontana di Nettuno (Neptune), added to the square’s eastern or northeastern edge in the late 16th to early 17th century. The fountains and their sculptural programs are emblematic of Roman Baroque city planning.

The built surroundings include historic palaces and the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, a Baroque church located at the square’s northern end, with design work by Girolamo Rainaldi and later involvement by Borromini. The palazzi around the square, such as Palazzo Braschi and Palazzo Pamphilj, host museums, embassies, and cultural institutions.

Today Piazza Navona is a major tourist and cultural hub, known for its artistic atmosphere, street performances, and seasonal markets, while retaining its role as a lively public space in Rome’s urban fabric.