Piazza Navona

"Continuing another four minutes down Via del Salvatore will bring you to Piazza Navona, a vibrant center of social and cultural life in Rome built on the site of the 1st century A.D. Stadium of Domitian. Its transformation from a Roman stadium to a Baroque piazza encapsulates the city’s long-standing tradition of repurposing spaces over time, and the name "Navona" is even thought to derive from the Latin word "agones" meaning "games." The oval layout and function of Piazza Navona today as a lively atmosphere hosting street performers, artists, and vendors maintains this connection with its ancient origins as a public space, blending Rome's layers of history. The dramatic Baroque façades flanking the charming cafés, restaurants, and gelaterias here conceal the artistic rivalry between Bernini and Borromini, who were each commissioned to work on different parts of the Piazza, injecting an intriguing layer of historical drama to this site. Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi designed by Gian Bernini in 1651 is the piazza’s centerpiece, featuring allegorical statues representing four major rivers from four continents—the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata—and topped with a dominant Egyptian obelisk. The positioning of the statues in Bernini's fountain—particularly the figure of the Nile covering its face—is often interpreted as a critique of Borromini's work on the church this statue faces, Sant'Agnese in Agone."

"Take note of the size of this Piazza, does this allude to anything you might recognize? This Piazza was once used was the Stadio di Domiziano, Stadium of Domitian, built by the Emperor himself in 85 AD. This stunning Piazza also holds the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fountain of Four Rivers, depicting art that represents the Nile for Africa, the Danube for Europe, the Ganges for Asia, and the Río de la Plata for the Americas. This beautifully carved obelisk represents the reach of the Rome Empire in the height of it's rule-- see if you can figure out which corner represents which river! "

"This square is famous for its stunning Baroque fountains, especially Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. It’s perfect for people-watching, and the surrounding cafes are great for a relaxing cappuccino or gelato break while soaking in the atmosphere."