How to Explore the Piazza Navona in Rome
Incredible as it may seem, an entire afternoon can be whiled away in the gorgeous Piazza Navona in Rome. You are visiting an enormous museum as you take in the sculpture, the fountains, and the paintings. You are steeping yourself in architecture and history as you immerse yourself in the incredible buildings, particularly the many churches, most of which you can explore both inside and out. You are tapping into history as you explore sites with roots as far back as the Roman Empire.
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Instructions
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Start your tour of the Piazza Navona at one of its most famous attractions and one which almost any resident of Rome can easily tell you how to find: The Fontana (fountain) del Moro with its intriguing sea god.
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Walk to the center of the Piazza to the Fontana del Quattro Fiumi designed by Bernini. Look at the four giants which are meant as symbols of four rivers: the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile, and the Plate. In the fountain’s center, you will see a Roman obelisk. Note the third fountain (Neptune) which forms the trio on the Piazza.
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Across from the fountains you will see Sant’Agnese in Agone which is noted for its concave façade. Notice particularly the statue of St. Agnes, the martyr of the church. In the crypt you can see a marble relief depicting her story.
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Walk another block and you will see Santa Maria dell’Anima, the German church in Rome. One more block will bring you to the Santa Maria della Pace ordered to be built by Pope Sixtus IV whose portrait you can see in a medallion on the front of the building; you will also see frescoes from the 1500’s.
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Include a stop at San Luigi dei Francesi on your tour. The French national church, which also served as a burial site, contains several works by Caravaggio. On the front of the church you will see a statue of St. Louis.
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Conclude your tour of the churches with a visit to the Sant’Andrea della Valle, a baroque beauty. The church is particularly noted for its dome by Carlo Moderno. Inside are gorgeous frescoes as well as many paintings.
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Walk around the area taking a look at some of the famous historic palazzos. Many of these are open to the public at varying days and hours.
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Save some time for two museums. The Museo Napoleonico commemorates the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose family the Pope allowed to live in Rome after Napoleon’s death. For those interested in Roman history, the Palazzo Braschi, which was built for a pope, has become the Museo di Roma.
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Tips & Warnings
Bringing a good guidebook with you will help enhance your visit to the Piazza Navona.
Some churches require visitors to be dressed modestly.
