Piazza Navona, Rome

Although it originally dates from the 12th century, the church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore has been modified over time. The existing façade is only from the 19th century. For a period during its history it was named San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, as it was used by the Spanish community, who later moved to another church. Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore is located at the beautiful Piazza Navona.

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Most famous of the three fountains on Piazza Navona is without doubt the fountain of the four rivers, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Bernini made this during the 1600s, was actually finished in 1651, and was made for the Pope Innocentius X Pamphili.

As the name says it's a fountain represents the four rivers mankind knew about at that age, Nile, Ganges, Donau and Rio de la Plata. Each of the rivers represented of a giant. The legend says that Bernini, as a symbol for his dislikeness of his competitor Borromini who built the church Sant'Agnese in Agone, covered the head of the Nile giant. This isn't true though, as the fountain was made way earlier than Borromini had started his work on the church.

I like it a lot when monuments like this is restored, and made fine again. Although I hate it when it's done at the same time as I'm there...

All around the fountain this time there were huge plates, which covered the view of it. I could look through some glass to see part of the fountain, but it sure wasn't as nice as without it.

First Il Duomo in Milan, and now this. What's next, the Iguazu Falls are dried out when I get there...?

The other two fountains, placed on each end of the piazza is much smaller, and less famous. Fontana di Nettuno, on the north side, was created by Giacomo della Porta. He also did the Fontana del Moro on the south side, although Bernini later rebuilt it by adding a mother who fights a dolphin.

Yep, crazy...

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In between Pantheon, Campo Di Fiori and the river Tibern you'll find the Piazza Navona. Probably Rome's most famous piazza was built on the ruins of Stadio di Domiziano, which was built here during the first hundred years after Christ.

Nowadays it's instead a very lively piazza, filled with shops, cafés and restaurants. Almost all of them way too expensive... ;)

The piazza is most of the time very crowded, with tourists, musicians, painters, entertainers and also some policemen who's duty it is to keep everything under control.

Had a nice stroll around the piazza while we waited for a table at the Old bear restaurant around the corner, and I've to say that I discovered new things every minute.

At first we saw the white painted man who stood absolutely still, followed by the peruvian band who played with their pan flutes and guitars. And then came a group of Hare Krishna-people, who seemed to aim for invading the piazza, no matter who stood in their way.

No, they didn't become very popular... ;)

On the piazza you will find three fountains (see next tip), but don't either miss the church Sant'Agnese in Agone. In a spectacular building you'll also find the embassy of Brasil.

The stadio di Domiziano held 33 000 spectators and were mostly a stadium for ahtletics. On the far end of the piazza, around the corner, you can still see some parts of it under the piazza.
The piazza itself was then built during the 1600s, in the same form as the stadium once was. At the same time Bernini also built the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.

Best with Piazza Navona is all things that goes on at least 12 hours a day. Although watch out as a lot of people always will draw pickpockets to the place.

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Sant'Agnese in Agone is a 17th century Baroque church dominating Piazza Navona. It was partially the work of the architect Carlo Rainaldi, who also designed Sant'Andrea della Valle and the twin domed churches of Piazza del Popolo. Sant'Agnese was built in honour of Saint Agnes, who was killed in Roman times at the Stadio di Domiziano, today's Piazza Navona. The interior of the church is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture in Rome. Photos are not allowed in the interior (I took mine discreetly with no flash).

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The elongated oval shape, unique in Rome, of the piazza owes its shape to a Roman racetrack, the surrounding buildings (predominantly 17th century Baroque) built upon what were the grandstands of Stadium of Domitian. Very little of the stadium is left (a few arches remain visible under the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone - the main church of the square), made more surprising by the fact that it seated 33,000 people.

The Piazza is one of the most stunning (and that's saying something) of all the Roman piazzas, a spectacular series of 17th century Baroque, the Fontana dei Fiumi at its centre one of the highlights. Unveiled in 1651, the fountain, designed by Bellini, creates a wonderful focus to the piazza. Amazingly, up until the 19th century, Piazza Navona was flooded every August, providing the wealthy Romans with opportunities to cool off by riding through the water (it was the poor who waded through it).

It's one of the places to people watch - cafes and bars abound on the perimeter - it's a real focal point to the city.

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A lively area (at least at night). Plenty of restaurants and bars in the area as well.

The third pic shows Sant' Agnese in Agone Church, made by Borromini, and the fourth, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi made by Bernini in 1651.

this is a must see, its not far from castel sant'angelo and after that it leads you to the pantheon.
we had gone to the castel sant'angelo in the morning and as we had time to spare we made our way to piazza novana and the pantheon, we didnt take more then 2 hrs.

This square was built on the site of the Domitian stadium.

There are three fountains here. One of these is the Fountain of the Four Rivers. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and was built by some of his pupils in 1651. Four giants represent the four rivers known at that time. The Gange, the Danube, the Nile and the Rio de la Plata. The other fountains are; the Fountain of the Moor and the Fountain of the Neptune.

In Piazza Navona there are two churches (if my memory serves me well), some shops and restaurants.