Piazza Navona is an open air public square that oddly manages to inspire a (strange) desire for romance and elicits warm fuzzy feelings in me, with great help from the memorable musicians playing enchanting soul-stirring music in every corner as you walk by and admire the three fountains.. or fall prey to the charm of the place and buy overpriced knick knacks from the street vendors.. or find a place to sit and people-watch. I specifically recall a violinist who played music so beautifully it could bring tears to the coldest of hearts (like mine). No, seriously - I'm not just cheesy. I was there a few times as you will likely also pass it more than once if you're like most people who do much of their exploring on foot. Make sure to see it during the day and at night. Be wary of pickpockets. Unfortunately the most charming of places also generate a great deal of people traffic and is therefore prime real estate for petty thievery. read more

Gorgeous piazza! If you have a limited amount of time in Rome, I would definitely suggest going to this piazza over the rest. The fountain in the middle of the piazza is breathtaking, and surrounding it everywhere are small vendors and musicians. There are so many different sights to take in, you won't get bored at all! There's plenty of benches as well to sit and relax while listening to accordion players. Open-air restaurants surround the piazza, all of which more or less have the same food for the same prices. The restaurants in the dead center of the piazza may be a euro or two more pricey than the ones at the end, but that's the price to pay when being in the center of the action! However, don't fool yourself into thinking you must eat in the piazza. There's plenty of beautiful hidden gems surrounding the piazza in the side streets that connect to it. Take a stroll along some of those side streets, you'll never know what awesome restaurants or bars you may run into and love! read more

Tons of people in this plaza...like tourists, artists and pick pockets. Its a great place to people-watch...just don't eat at the expensive diluted restos that surround this plaza. Grazie. read more

The piazza itself is a very nice place to hang around, like much of Rome. The Pantheon is RIGHT THERE. Thinking about Piazza Navona just makes me feel good and creates an insatiable desire to come back to Rome or Europe in general. A must visit. I also went to a restaurant here around six years ago. I forgot the name of the trattoria, but I definitely do not forget the memorable experience I had here. I had the best pasta I ever had in my life. The pasta looked so simple. It had such a simple concept, but it just packed so much flavor and was just delightful. I wonder how they do it over there!! One day I will come back. read more

Awe Inspiring Craftsmanship! I cannot imagine how someone can carve from stone such an awesome spectacle! This is another place where the courtyard fills at night with culture and happy people celebrating anything and nothing until the evening is gone... Really cool sculptures.... read more

I'm leaning toward 2.5 stars, and here's why. It's a tourist trap. I did get some nice paintings there, but I'm not sure why I would want to go, other than the shopping, which I can do elsewhere in the city. The fountains are lovely, if you can see them through the other tourists. I will flavor this comment by saying that I'm not huge on tourist traps. I don't like going where everyone else is going. I ended up here because my Mom wanted to come and we had just been at the Pantheon, so there was no excuse not to go. My advice, if you want to see the fountains, come. Look for art that is not a picture printed out and then colored in. There are a few artists there doing original work. Ask them about the work and look close. You can tell. Also, avoid actually eating at any of the places on the piazza. They are grossly over priced and the food is bad. Most of it is microwaved. My husband had the world's worst pizza there. read more

Gorgeous and, in spite of hefty tourist hoards, quite peaceful piazza in central Rome. Grab a gelato, buy an overpriced water painting and enjoy. read more

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The star of the huge Piazza Navona is Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (the Fountain of the Four Rivers). Go, if only to marvel at it's beauty. We stopped at Tre Scalini for a gelato and sat by the fountain, just taking in the sights and sounds of the piazza. Was a nice respite from a busy day. read more

If you're looking for a place with reasonably-priced art, local musicians, and great people-watching, Piazza Navona is a good bet. The restaurants are probably outrageously expensive (go ahead and eat anywhere else), but I've definitely gotten some beautiful pieces of art here. The palazzo and church in the piazza are gorgeous. - I'd say it's worth it to do a little bit of research about the fountains and architecture beforehand! read more

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This is an attractive square bustling with overpriced restaurants, souvenir booths, and aggressive selfie stick vendors. Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers) is prominently featured in the piazza as well as the Fountain of Neptune. We walked through the Piazza on our way from Vatican City to the Pantheon, but didn't stay long. It looks like it would make for some good people watching in the evening, but expect to pay a premium if you sit at any of the restaurants or cafes. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but Rome is a walkable city so it was easy to work it in to our itinerary. read more

Piazza Navona - Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fiumi Fountain) in the Piazza Navona. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

We all know Europe is full of Piazzas, but not all Piazzas are made equal. This is a cute site, expect it to get crowded, but isn't that typical of Europe anyways? Nice area. read more

Breathtaking. Love the fact that it is surrounded by great restaurants, though all a bit on the pricey side for the quality of food. The piazza is amazing with a beautiful fountain as the centerpiece. With tons of local artist, vendors and people make this a must see in Rome! read more

A lady on the plane told me I NEEDED to go to piazza navona. When I got here there were a couple of fountains and artists painting on canvas. I guess I wasnt impressed with the place after a fantastic tour of the vatican. I got some more gelato and was on my way to the spanish steps. read more

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Lots of good places to eat near this beautiful large plaza with fountains, entertaining venders, shops, and more. A bit crowded on a Saturday night, but still enjoyable. Did I mention it's beautiful? In walking distance of other great sites, too. read more

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This was my favorite place to hang out in Rome. This is touristy as can be, but hey... I was a tourist! This Piazza has all sorts of fun street vendors, Gelato places, and outdoor cafes. My family came back here twice to wander and stroll. I would definitely make this a stop on your trip.... It is a short walk from the Panthon...like a 2 minute walk. Also, fun side note- the Angels and Demons tour goes through here because the fountains inspired part of the "Path of Illumination" in Dan Brown's "The Davinci Code". It is sort of cool to realize that the real fountain looks nothing like the movie, and the movie was filmed on a set replica. read more

Beautiful fountain and lots of street art... so pretty! Cute piazza (square) with a wonderful entertainment and art scene. Food is too expensive, wait till you are outside of the main area to get a drink or some food. read more

Piazza Navona - Local art all over the plaza! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

This is a very interesting plaza. 1st it is a good place to have lunch, with the many restaurants in the plaza...yes you pay for it. 2nd there is the Fontana del Moro, definitely worth seeing with the Bernini sculpture 3rd is the Fountain of Neptune Additionally the Palazzo Pamphilj & Sant'Agnese in Agone are at this location. Definitely a good spot to start any walking tour. read more

For my wife and daughter (fans of Angels and Demons), this was a must see stop in Rome. The piazza is very nice with restaurants in many locations around the perimeter. The fountains are nice too and not as crowded as Trevi Fountain when we visited. The afternoon of our visit, It was almost 100 degrees out which probably explains why there were not many people. So so for me. Great stop for my wife and daughter. read more

When our tour guide took us to the Navona Plaza, it was mid-afternoon and really not that many people there. We took a long look at the central Bernini's Four Rivers fountain. Our guide explained that contrary to the movie Angels and Demons, the fountain is not deep enough to swim underwater. Pretty big plaza. read more

Astounding very beautiful fountain we saw in It in daylight and after dark. It so impressive to see surrounding area read more

This is the number one place to just sit and watch everything going around you. Get a seat in a cafe and just stay there and relax, read a book, watch the people and the artists. On the square itself is where all the artists are set up, in between them you get the guys with the fake designer bags and milling in and out are tourists on their own and in groups. We even saw a gaggle of very young looking priests who people kept stopping and asking if they could have their photos taken with them!! Around the square is restaurants, cafe's and gelaterias. Just take a walk around looking at the menus until you find something within your budget and you're set for the whole day!! read more

This is a lovely square in the centre of Rome. It's interesting elongated shape is due to it being built over the Stadium of Domitian (an Ancient Roman circus). In the centre stand the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers, 1651) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This is an imposing fountain with an Egyptian obelisk in it's centre. There are another two fountains, both by Giacomo della Porta, in the square: the Fontana di Nettuno (1574) in the northern area and the Fontana del Moro (1576) at the southern end. The square is lined with busy cafes and restaurants, and as it's a very popular area with tourists some of these can be a bit overpriced. Tre Scalini is a good place to sit and people watch while enjoying a tartufo (a rich dark chocolate ice cream bomb). read more

This was a beautiful historical square, loads of out door restaurants which were brimming , sadly all of the fountains in the square where surrounded with scaffolding. Various churches in the square which were authentic and had charm and character. Lovely location for a romantic meal read more

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Piazza Navona was on our list to visit and it's a great place to people watch. There are benches on the sides to sit and even though it was busy, most people seem to sit for a few minutes and leave so there are plenty of seats. I did like how there were a bunch of artists drawing portraits around the piazza. We did succumb to one of them after watching him draw 2-3 people and thought he was very talented. It turns out he was better at drawing kids because the final product made the person look 10 years older! It cost quite a bit (40 Euro), but it's a nice souvenir for later. Besides the selfie stick vendors, they were also selling tubes for storing your picture (2 euro). Add Piazza Navona to your to-see list, but spend as much or little time as you want! read more

What's in the Piazza, Moor or Less? What once was the Stadium of Domitian (built in the 1st century AD), Piazza Navona became a marketplace in the 15th century. In the center stands Fontana del Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the four Rivers) that has an Egyptian obelisk at its center. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651 especially for Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced the piazza. At the southern end is Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor), which was designed in 1575 by Giacomo della Porta with a dolphin and four Tritons. The Moor, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was added in 1653. One could literally take hundreds of shots of the intricate details of Fontana del Quattro Fiumi and Fontana del Moro. While I did not attempt it, getting there right at sunrise might avoid the tremendous crowds that gather (even during rain, as we experienced while visiting our first day in Rome. There are several places to eat and drink in and around the piazza. read more

Piazza Navona - Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor) - Piazza Navona - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rome, RM

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It is one of Roma's biggest piazza. There are three fountains, two on each ends and a big one in the middle. The piazza is lined with many restaurants that will try to bring tourist in, however if you're on a budget then I suggest to look for a place to eat between the side streets near the piazza. Most restaurants will usually offer the same things, so take some time to browse for a place with the right price range that you're looking for. In between the fountains, there are also an assortment of street performers or vendors. Some people will make art as you watch, some will dance or do nothing at all, and some will make jewelry, caricatures, etc. There is a church that is located around this piazza as well, if you're planning to go in then it is recommended to dress appropriately. And as usual, always be conscious of your belongings. On that note, have fun and enjoy the Roman culture that this piazza has to offer. read more

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

My wife and I on tour back in the year of 2011 while on tour we walked through here and stopped to eat at one of the sidewalk cafes flanking the plaza! ''My first experience with Spaghetti Italian style is one big meatball on a bed of pasta rather than the small many meatball dish I was used to American style? And a stop at a small jewelry store on the edge of the plaza down in one of the ally's for purchase of a set of diamond ear-rings!" Rome is an awesome place!'' 5 stars*****! ''Thank you very much Italy I shall always remember you!'' read more

Nice place to sit and people watch. Restaurants are a little pricey but nice. Local musicians are playing on the street

This plaza is just simply gorgeous! Truly. This is what makes Rome, Rome. The fountain, the buildings - photos can't capture the grandness of it all. read more

Apparently, you have to be white/Caucasian to be able to sit at the front of the restaurant. Staff is a bit rude and hot headed. The food is decent. read more

Location: A very quick walk (unless you get lost) from the Centro. The place: Well first of all, it's a huge square littered with beautiful fountains, restaurants and lots of local artists trying to make a living. Opposite of the main fountain is Sant' Agnese in Agone church, which boasts a stunning facade by Borromini. Again, another great architectural design, which are so common in Rome. The Fountain of the Four Rivers, which is one of the main attractions here, is stunning - but I mean, what fountain in Rome isn't? Luckily for me, I visited Piazza Navona with a friend who is a local guide, and she explained the history of this beautiful work of art by Bernini. The Fountain depicts the Gods of four rivers in the four continents recognized (back then) by Renaissance geographers: the Nile in Africa, the Ganges in Asia, the Danube in Europe and the Río de la Plata in America. For each country, Bernini included animals and plants pertaining to each. For example, for the Ganges, you will see an oar (representing how the river was easy to navigate), the Nile is shown with a piece of cloth covering its head (because no one knew where it was located), the Danube shows the Papal coat of arms and the Rio is shown on a pile of coins, which was a symbol of how rich America was (and this depicted the hope that American might offer Europe some of those riches). It really is a masterpiece. read more

Great people watching, nice fountain, decent restaurants around the perimeter from which to absorb it all whilst imbibing an Aperol Spritz. Definitely worth a visit. The gelato venues on the square are also excellent... read more

Had lunch while watching the tourists take pictures by the fountains and it's a nice place to stop and admire the streets of Roma. Had my yummy deli sandwich along with my fresh olives, prosciutto, and cheese. Best place to relax. read more

Piazza Navona was nice, glad we visited. The history of the Palio race and the hustle and bustle were interesting for sure. We even enjoyed gelato in the square. But, as far as attractions in Tuscany go, it was fine. If we were visiting for the Palio race, then it would be very exciting, but for the other 50 weeks of the year - it's just a nice place to convene and learn about the history of Siena. read more

A must stop on your sojourn through Rome, the Piazza Navona is that uber cool hangout for dinner and drinks well into the evening. There is always something interesting going on, and usually there is live music of some kind. We enjoyed an old gentleman doing a very bad lip sync of Pavorotti, but hey, he was having fun, so, we were too. The tartufo at Tre Scalini, the beautiful architecture, and the the warm October evening completed the gestalt. read more

Must see in Rome! There is such an amazing energy around the square. Go get lost in the streets behind it, you will find great food, awesome little stores and great hidden architectural gems :) read more

It's good to go here because it's famous and it's one of the must go places, but it's too crowded and downright annoying with many huge groups of students. If not for them, then it would be enjoyable and I might have given it 4 stars. The Bernini water fountain looked good, but I thought the Egyptian obelisk rising from the center looked out of place and cheesy. Not likely to return here and I got 7 days left. The cafes and restaurants looked typically Italian. There's no variety in the cuisine. So tired of pizza and pasta. read more

This piazza is a very special part of Rome. The fountains and statues are breathtaking, and surrounding that you'll find art, food, drinks, and plenty of live music. My wife and I stayed here for 4 nights, and there was no shortage of entertainment. Get some pizza and wine, and enjoy yourself. read more

we wandered over here after going to the vatican well I should say just the area because we didn't go inside. anyway it was gorgeous here as most of Rome is. even looking at the pictures on Yelp right now I wish I was back there in Rome. I loved all the touristy things they had set up can't wait to go back. read more

Being told by a few people that it's a must see puts a place like this on your list of...well...must see places. The first time I happened upon this plaza was at night and it was anything but crowded. So the next day, I came back during the day to discover a lot of people out, artists selling their work (and some painting), some people doing some performance art, and some live music being played. It was a fun atmosphere to be in. A few days later, I came back wanting to find the same sort of thing but it wasn't as magical. It is still a nice plaza with some nice fountains, some cool art, and some good people watching but I found that it got old after awhile (and I love people watching). I think the problem is that the seating in the plaza itself is not very great. The places to sit on are about 3-5 inches wide and get uncomfortable. The only places that are better to sit would be the cafes and restaurants lining the outside of it, which serve up some mainly mediocre and very overpriced tourist food. Good place to hang out in once or twice, but to say I was slightly underwhelmed would be true too. read more