I absolutely loved coming here. So majestic during the holidays. The decor and the ambiance is great. A nice open space with a Merry-Go Round. Tons of vendors selling xmas ornaments and other items. I spent a couple of hours here people watching and shopping and take in the scenery. The fountain in the middle of the piazza is amazing. So stunning It is built on the site of the 1st century AD Stadium of Domitian and follows the form of the open space of the stadium in an elongated oval.[1] The ancient Romans went there to watch the games In the 17th century it became a showcase for Baroque design, with work by Bernini and Borromini among others. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi stands in front of the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. read more

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Piazza Navona is absolutely stunning and full of life. The fountains are breathtaking, especially the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the entire square feels like you're walking through an open-air museum. Everywhere you look there's beauty, history, and energy. I loved the atmosphere here. Street artists, music, people enjoying the moment, and the glow of the lights at night make it feel magical. It's the perfect place to slow down, take it all in, and really feel the soul of Rome. A must-visit spot that captures the charm and elegance of the city. read more

Piazza Navona is one of Rome's most famous and beautiful public squares. It's surrounded by gorgeous, notable buildings, including the Palazzo Braschi and Sant'Agnese in Agone, a 17th-century Baroque church. The piazza is known for its Baroque architecture and art. There are three fountains in Piazza Navona, and they each have their own Wikipedia page. The largest and most renowned of these is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or Fountain of the Four Rivers, a Bernini masterpiece from 1651. It's an unbelievable work of art, dynamic and detailed, topped by an ancient Roman copy of an Egyptian obelisk. We walked through the piazza on a chilly November night, and the square was fun and lively, busy without being crowded. I'm guessing it gets much tighter during peak tourist season, but it would take a lot of people to make the place unpleasant. We made a point of seeing Piazza Navona on this trip, but it was easy enough to check off while walking from our hotel to dinner. I imagine I'll visit whenever I'm in Rome. read more

Visiting the many plazas are part of the fun of exploring Rome without the extreme crowds of the major attraction. Among the many plazas, Piazza Navona is one of the more popular ones. It's an open space in an oval area that was once a space for athletic competition during ancient times. There is so much energy in this space. In addition to the restaurants and local shops, we also saw street performers and artists hang out in the area. This was truly where art and culture blended. My favorite part of this plaza was definitely the stunning fountain, which featured four river gods, representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Definitely a great place to hang out and enjoy a gelato *wink* read more

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Built on the elongated perimeter of the ancient Domitian Stadium, known as "Circo Agonalis," where gymnastic competitions took place, Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Rome with its showy fountains, baroque palazzi, and colorful cast of street artists. My partner, our friends, family member, and I visited this spot in September during our golf cart tour. Since it was refurbished by Pope Innocent X, it has been a gathering spot for people from all over Rome and all walks of life, and it continues to be so to this day. At its center stands Gian Lorenzo Bernini's magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), completed in 1651. This dynamic sculpture represents the four great rivers of the known continents at the time--the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube, and the Río de la Plata--each embodied by a powerful figure surrounding an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Two other fountains adorn the piazza: the Fontana del Moro at the southern end, depicting a Moor wrestling a dolphin, and the Fontana del Nettuno at the northern end, featuring Neptune battling a sea creature. Together, these fountains create a harmonious rhythm across the square, uniting art, mythology, and the musical sound of water. The church of Sant'Agnese in Agone added so much charm to the scene. The best part was no entrance fee, no crowds, just a short line. Once one steps inside, the interior is a feast for the eyes. Rich marble work, ornate gold details, and stunning frescoes create an atmosphere of grandeur and devotion. Whether one's stopping by during the day or in the evening, the space itself feels like stepping into an open-air museum--full of charm and atmosphere. read more

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Another cool piazza featuring an obelisk, a church, a fountain, outdoor shopping kiosks, indoor shops and restaurants featuring gelato, coffee and wine. This was my favorite of the piazzas that I visited. This area is walkable from the Pantheon. read more

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An alright plaza with two different statues, the plaza is huge and enjoyable at night. The sight was great. However, there isn't much to do when we were here. Unless you have anything else to do around here, i wouldn't go out of the way to come this place read more

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Piazza Navona is a public open space in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the 1st century AD Stadium of Domitian and follows the form of the open space of the stadium in an elongated oval. The ancient Romans went there to watch the agones ("games"), and hence it was known as "Circus Agonalis" ("competition arena"). In the 17th century it became a showcase for Baroque design, with work by Bernini and Borromini among others. The Fountain Of Four Rivers stands in front of the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. Piazza Navona has two other fountains. At the southern end is the Fontana del Moro with a basin and four Tritons sculpted by Giacomo della Porta (1575) to which, in 1673, Bernini added a statue of a Moor, wrestling with a dolphin. At the northern end is the Fountain of Neptune (1574) also created by Giacomo della Porta; the statue of Neptune, by Antonio Della Bitta, was added in 1878 to create a balance with La Fontana del Moro. The church is so beautiful, and you can just sit in the middle of the Piazza on a bench and with the fountains going and all the people walking around, you can always catch a show going on, You can sit there all day and just sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and breathtaking vir read more

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Beautiful Piazza with multiple fountains, at the time they did not look like they were working. The square offered a number of choices in restaurants along the outside. Within the center there were a few artist, musician. There is a few churches in the row of buildings. The piazza becomes busy at night with the fountains lite up. It's worth stopping by to view the square day or night. read more

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A large, beautiful plaza with more amazing, Roman architecture. Visited on a Saturday, during summer and it was really busy. There's plenty of beautiful things to see here. It was really hot the day we visited, so this was a quick stop for us and we spent most of it in the shade. Definitely another amazing tourist attraction that needs to be visited. read more

Piazza Navona - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

Piazza Navona is a public open space in Rome, which was built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian. The ancient Romans went there to watch the agones, and hence it was known as Circus Agonalis. There's current renovation going on, all three fountains have been covered. read more

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Today was my first night in Rome & we had dinner in the area. Saw on Maps that Piazza Navona was only a block away and figured why not do a quick little sight seeing before heading back to the hotel. Unfortunately, I did not get to see Piazza Navona in all of its glory. I figured they were doing restoration but wasn't sure until I looked it up online. Piazza Navona, and Rome as a city in general, is going through a "monumental facelift" for Roman Catholic's Holy Year, 2025. Kind of a bummer I was not able to actually see the fountains here but Sant'Agnese in Agone still looked magnificent. read more

Piazza Navona - Piazza navona - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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Oh, how I just LOVED roaming around Rome both during the day and at night, when visiting for the 1st time (09/29/2023-10/4/2023) from Austin, Texas (United States). With so many historic sculptures, landmarks, piazzas (public square), basilicas, and many other significant sights all around the city of Rome, it really is like an outdoor museum. Exploring Rome at night is something I highly recommend everyone to do because not only will you most likely avoid the crowds and heat (if visiting in the warmer months) but seeing the sculptures and monuments all lit up at night, really is something special! My hubby and I got to experience Piazza Navona at night (on 10/03/2023, around 1am) while on a walking tour (Nocturnal Walking Tour through Airbnb experiences- Eliphas was a great tour guide!). We literally had it all to ourselves. We really enjoyed learning the history of Piazza Navona. There are 3 famous fountains located in Piazza Navona - Fountain of the Four Rivers (built by Bernini between 1647 and 1651(my favorite!) and also the Fountain of Neptune. (I can't remember the 3rd one-sorry!) See the pics and videos included in this review of the famous and stunning Fountain of the Four Rivers. Hope this info helps! Till next time, Rebecca visiting from Austin, TX read more

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This probably one of the most beautiful piazzas in Rome especially in the evening. If you come to Rome, you must come here. The piazza will take your breath away. It is located on top of the 1st-century Stadium of Domitian; thus, the distinctive oval design. This is a great piazza to people watch. The centerpiece of this piazza is the Fountain of Four Rivers, an over-the-top baroque creation by Gian Lorenzo Bernini along with two other fountains: Fontana del Moro (Moor Fountain) and Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune). Lovely baroque palaces line the square as well as Francesco Borromini's the Chiesa di Sant'Agnese in Agone. read more

Spend 30 minutes or a day here. It's up to you. Missing Piazza Navona is not an option though. Thankfully, it's on the way to everything whatever direction you may be traveling. Perfect for watching Italians and the world's peoples meander around. read more

One of the biggest and famous plaza in Rome. During the brief time I spent at Piazza Navona in Rome, I was impressed by its architectural beauty and lively atmosphere. The imposing buildings, artistic fountains, and bustling street life created an authentic experience of Rome's vibrant culture. I hope to have the opportunity to return in the future to further explore this area and discover all its fascinating aspects. The restaurants are pretty pricey (of course you have to pay the view) and offer sub par food quality. But all in all worth a visit. Fun Fact: Great history behind the square what used to be a race track! read more

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Breathtaking although the main fountain is under construction. Better in the morning and the evening.... Fewer people read more

Piazza Navona - Main fountain of the rivers - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

Piazza Navona is a beautiful open space in Rome - the Piazza is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian which dates back to the first century AD. It is also home to the embassy of Brazil and the Fiumi Fountain. The square is quite pretty, it's a nice place to sit back for a little while if you can avoid peak times to get a seat on the benches and avoid the crowds. There are a couple of businesses within the piazza, but they are mostly tourist traps so I would say avoid spending your money here, as you're going to be paying a premium when the quality isn't that good. It's a fairly nice place to visit while in Rome, to admire the architecture and vibes, and the central location within walking distance of most of the city's other attractions (It's right around the corner from the Pantheon) makes it somewhere that you'll be passing along anyway. read more

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This was on our list of 'if we have time and it is convenient' places on our Rome itinerary. We ended up stopping by briefly on our walk from the Pantheon to Castel Sant'Angelo, as it is on the way. Basically this is a large rectangular plaza with a huge Bernini fountain in the center. A large domed church is situated in the center of one of the long axes. We visited between 3:30 and 4 p.m. in November, so the lighting in the plaza was not optimal - the sun had sunk low enough so that the large buildings flanking the piazza were casting shadows. If I returned here, i'd probably try to come around midday for better lighting. The fountain offers opportunities for good photos. The plaza was populated but not super-crowded when we went. Most of the people congregated around the fountain. There appeared to be a lot of shops around the perimeter but we didn't really linger to check them out. I would not plan an itinerary around seeing this spot, but if you're close by it is definitely worth at least a short visit. read more

Piazza Navona - Fountain's column. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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The Piazza Navona is my favorite spot to meet up with friends while in Rome, to take a break from the much smaller and crowded piazzas and massive crowds at the historical landmarks nearby (Trevi Fountain, I'm talking to you!) This very large square is lined with restaurants, cafes and gelato shops with tables out front, perfect for people watching and enjoying the sunshine.. I've eaten here and had gelato from several cafes over the years. The food is not as expensive as one would expect from a well know tourist area and it was quite good. My last visit to Rome, we arrived at the Piazza Navona at 9:30 am while tourists were still at their hotels and the square was practically empty. It was the perfect opportunity to take in the beauty of the three distinct fountains and the sherbet colored buildings with window boxes of flowers and trailing bougainvillea. The peacefulness lasted about 30 minutes then the crowds started to arrive and the hustle and bustle took over. We came back later for dinner and by then dozens of street artists had set up their easels and were painting and offering up their art for sale. Most scenes are of the piazza itself or other famous landmarks of Rome or other parts of Italy. There were several in my group and each of us bought art. I selected a small 8x10 water color of Rome with the dome if St. Peter's Basilica in the backdrop. Another friend bought a large oil painting of a romantic street at night, ivy trailing off the golden buildings dappled by the light of street lamps. Another fell in love with a city scene and the umbrella pines that are everywhere in Rome. Most artists set a price and don't barter but somehow one of my persistent friends was able to get $20 euros deducted. Me? I paid full price and feel my piece of art is worth every euro and then some! My favorite fountain is the largest one, the Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, the Fountain of the Four Rivers sculpted by the incredibly talented Bernini. Every time I see it, I stand mesmerized by the enormity, detail and beauty. The fountain is topped by the Egyptian Obelisk of Domitian from the Circus of Maxentius which adds height and really makes this fountain stand out. At the end of the square is the Fontana del Moro, designed by Giancomo della Porta, and features 4 tritons sculpted in 1575. Bernini added the famous sculpture of a Moor wrestling a dolphin in 1673. The nearby Fountain of Neptune was also sculpted by Giancomo della Porta. As with much if Rome, the Piazza Navona takes in a different beauty at dusk and then dark when the fountains and buildings are illuminated. It's beautiful any time of the day and night and a must see while in Rome. read more

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Beautiful piazza with amazing fountains and architecture. Live this place for dinner! Multiple restaurants to chose from: they all have the same or very similar menus, this go by the vibe and prices. read more

Piazza Navona - Piazza Navona main fountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

Beautiful piazza. So nice to visit in the quiet hours of early morning when there were no crowds. The Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, also known as the Fountain of the Four Rivers, by Bernini is so beautiful. It is topped by the Egyptian Obelisk of Domitian from the Circus of Maxentius. The Fontana del Moro was designed by Giancomo della Porta who designed many of the fountains that provided clean water to Rome via the ancient Roman aqueducts. The fountain features four tritons sculpted in 1575. A hundred years later in 1673, Bernini added a sculpture of a Moor wrestling with a dolphin. The Fountain of Neptune was also sculpted by della Porta. Perfect way to start the day exploring Rome. read more

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There are countless piazzas in Rome; many of them have works by great artists; some have nice restaurants; yet others have cute shops and boutiques. Piazza Navona has them all! The Fountain of Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (same guy who did the St Peter's square and boatloads of other great architectural works and sculptures) is a main attraction and iconic photo spot. This one alone is worth the trip! The plaza is huge and, like many other things in Rome, almost 2000 years old. It was built around 86 AD as a stadium for games and contests. Today there are many shops, from souvenir outlets to boutiques, as well as pop up stands like in carnivals and fairs. We came around Xmas and it was ver festive! Only a few minutes walk from the Pantheon so it's quite easy to hit both landmarks in a short period of time. And if you're a good Walker, you can go west, cross the famous Tiber River (Fiume Tevere) and visit the Vatican. Lots of people will be with you at the piazza, however. So be careful with your belongings- we were warned by a few locals about thefts. Also many beggars... and jugglers, singers, etc. good place to people watch. read more

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What can you say about the Italian Piazzas. They have fountains and churches. They also have plenty of areas to shop and eat. This Piazza does not disappoint. read more

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Echoing what others have said - go on a weekday morning for an almost private experience of the piazza. You'll be able to take nearly unobstructed photographs. We also got to witness a group of young nuns praying. We aren't religious and don't speak much Italian but it was such a peaceful and beautiful site. read more

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It's a must visit place when in Rome. We went on a night tour that was really informative and fun. I was amazed to visit such a lovely place. The history is wow. read more

We make it a point to get to Piazza Navona on every trip to Rome. This is a great place for a passeggiata serale (evening walk), apertivi at one of the restaurants on the Piazza, or having a picnic lunch with some wine. There are three Bernini fountains in the Piazza, the most dramatic of which is Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) in the center in front of the Baroque church Sant'Agnese in Agone. read more

Piazza Navona - Piazza Navona (looking north) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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This public space in the last years of 15th century, significant example of Baroque Roman architecture & art during the pontificate of Innocent X, who reigned from 1644 until 1655, and whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced the piazza. It features sculptures; in the center is the 1651 Fountain of the Four Rivers topped by the Obelisk of Domitian, brought in pieces from the Circus of Maxentius and the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. The Fontana del Moro with a basin and four Tritons from 1575 with a Moor, wrestling with a dolphin and the 2574 Fountain of Neptune. read more

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Rick Steves' free audio tour of Piazza Navona is how I experienced the place. Interesting to learn about the fountains... They're pretty neat! read more

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This ended up being one of my favorite spots we found in Rome! This is a gorgeous courtyard with multiple fountains and large sculptures. It is a larger open air area so on nice days it is a great spot to stop and relax. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes close by and sitting there eating was my favorite meal of our trip. There were street performers (artist painting, bubble blowers for the kids, and street vendors) and plenty of seating. This is also one of the lesser known tourist stops so it was not nearly as crowded as some of the other places. This was an amazing stop because it let us take a minute to take a breath and really take in the city! read more

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In addition to the surround of beautiful buildings and numerous cafés, terraces, street performers and portrait artists, the piazza has three fountains. The Fountain of Four Rivers with the obelisk, and two smaller fountains, Fountain del Nettuno and Fontana del Moro. read more

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Beautiful piazza with delicious restaurants around and some cool shops! Make sure to check out Gran Cafe Marcel next to the museum. He offers very beautifully done tote bags that are better quality than the corny stands you see walking around! The museum also has a cool book store with unique finds. This is a great central place to visit, take pictures, and find unique souvenirs. read more

Well, out of all Piazza (okay, Piazza means Square in English), I liked this most and I am glad I visited this in the night. Perhaps one of the best known of Rome's public squares, the Piazza Navona dates back to the end of the 15th century. This large square is usually full of artists and street vendors and the surrounding buildings frame the open space perfectly. it fills with people sipping coffees while watching street performers and artists. Cafes abound, and there are many shops too. There are 3 famous fountains here. Fontana dies Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno. But the main attraction in Piazza Navona is the Fontana die Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) and it was designed by none other than Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Trevi Fountain & Pantheon is very close to this (google, yes), So plan your activities accordingly read more

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Destination? No. Pics & praiseworthy? Yes. Discovering the busy and lively Piazza Navona was a cool interruption ... and photo opportunity ... while we walked through this part of Rome. Little did we know at the time, that the crowded open public plaza with Baroque Roman architecture was a popular tourist venue as well. We joined the masses taking selfies and photos around the many landmark features. In the center is the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini placed in 1651. It is topped by the imposing Obelisk of Domitian named after Stadio di Domiziano (also known as the Circus Agonalis) which was the here in the 1st century. Two other fountains provided cool photo backgrounds. At the northern end sits the Fountain of Neptune created by Giacomo della Porta in 1574. Over 300 years later in 1878, Antonio Della Bitta added the statue of Neptune. At the other end is the Fontana del Moro with four Tritons sculpted by Giacomo della Porta one year later in 1575. Almost 100 years afterwards, in 1673, Gian Lorenzo Bernini added the statue of a man wrestling with a dolphin. Around Piazza Navona, you'll find other important galleries, history, restaurants, and coffee shops. Both times we visited, it was a lively active mix of tourists, couples, and families taking pics and hanging out. The vibe and photos make it 5 stars even though it isn't a real destination unto itself. read more

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This was our first "sight" we came upon during our visit to Rome. SCW and I were staying a few blocks away at an AirBnB and needed to get our Rome experience started. With a general idea where it was we wandered through the narrow streets with interesting shops and popped out into the Piazza Navona. Such a beautiful sight even on a overcast day. The detail Bernini put into his sculptures is simply incredible. Such a pleasure to be able to see the fountains and the Sant'Agnese church. The Piazza Navona is quite a beautiful space where one can enjoy the views, people watching or some food surrounding the square. I'm not going to post the history or everything here as you'll find that information easily. It was indeed a bit overrun with fellow tourists though we are here in the slower season. Watch out for the selfie sticks which are a staple it seems for tourists in Rome. Don't have one? You'll have the chance to purchase one there (we of course did not). SCW (Super Cute Wife) noted with amusement the people who simply took a picture or two without pause to take in the sight only to wander off to the next place. I'm not sure the point of that but was amusing to see. Truly a gem to behold that has survived the ages. I enjoyed Piazza Navona immensely. Go and enjoy! read more

Piazza Navona - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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Bello posto. Di tutti nella città di Roma -- il più migliore. I love this place. I first saw it when I was a student in Architecture School. My dear friend Maureen took me to it early in the year and it was a bliss-filled revelation. Here was a public plaza (piazza) that integrated the best of all worlds: great urban design, a major church by Borromini, the fountain by his arch-rival Giancarlo Bernini, a continuous row of similarly scaled buildings that enclose this incomparable place. Anyone who goes to Rome ends up at Piazza Navona eventually. I can't imagine anyone not finding out about it. My advice: drink it in, and if possible at various times of the day. The transformation over the hours is magic. And maybe you can have something to eat at Tre Scalini (ristorante). read more

We didn't get to see this piazza until late at night, after seeing much of the rest of the top 10 places to see while in Rome earlier in the day. It wasn't as well lighted as I would have thought, but maybe they weren't on just yet? It was still abuzz, despite it being dark. There were quite a few people gathered in and around the square. These are just natural "watering holes" for the locals and tourists. It must be pure magnetism to just want to be around fountains and water sources, right? I luckily saw this piazza in the past, so I knew what the detailing of the statues looked like. I could still quite a bit in the glint of the moon light too. read more

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We were just walking around when we literally ran into this square. This is what I love about Rome. You never know when you'll stumble upon some amazing churches or buildings. We took some great pictures here. A lot of times you don't even have to go into churches or buildings to enjoy them. I was looking for a fabric store, and if you follow my reviews, you know I found lots of cool places in Italy because of this side activity. We found a gelato shop and just sat enjoying our ice cream and view! Lots shipping around here as well. read more

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Another must stop in Rome to enjoy Roman Gothic architecture here. Beautiful fountain in the middle, I was told they used to host a battle game/fight from both side of the fountain. Plaza shape makes you feel like you are on a ship deck. Be sure to check inside as they are gorgeous too. read more

Piazza Navona - The fountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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I was so happy to be back in Piazza Navona after 20 years it is one of the largest and most beautiful piazza squares in Rome with three impressive fountains, including Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers) with its large obelisk at the centre, Fontana del Moro and Fontana di Nettuno. The baroque church of Sant'Agnese in Agone provides an impressive backdrop.It is a a great place to hang out because surrounded by restaurants and street artists, painters and musicians who add a lively atmosphere to the scene.   This is a pleasant place to hang out, have a drink or meal from the many restaurants that line the piazza and people watch.   There is always something going on at the Piazza Navona day or night so it's one stop to make when in Rome! read more

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