Postcard from Rome: Piazza Navona

Buon giorno and welcome back to Stefano’s RomeCabs Transfers and Tours blog.

We continue our Postcard from Rome series with our latest Video Postcard from Piazza Navona.

Video Postcard from Rome: Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the most popular and lively squares in Rome, and it’s included in our Rome in 2 Days Tour, Rome in 3 Days Tour, Panoramic Rome for Cruisers Tour, and in the Angels and Demons Tour by our sister company Stefano Rome Tours.

What makes Piazza Navona such a great place to visit in Rome?

For one thing, it’s location is quite unique and it has profound ties with Ancient Rome. Literally!

Piazza Navona was built on top of the rectangular 1st century AD ancient Roman Stadium of Emperor Domitian – much of which still exists underground with some areas excavated, restored and open for visitors. In fact, the square takes its oblong shape from the outline of the ancient stadium upon which it was built giving you an idea of how large this ancient stadium used to be.
Above ground, the square is lively, colorful, and buzzing with people. Here is what to look for when visiting Piazza Navona:
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The fountains of Piazza Navona:

On the south end of the square is Fountain of the Moors (Fontana del Moro) with a large basin of water and four Tritons and a Moor in the center wrestling a dolphin.

The Tritons were sculpted by Giacomo della Porta in 1575, and the Moor was added a century later by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Fountain of the Moors in Piazza Navona

On the opposite side of the square is the Fountain of Neptune, also the creation of Giacomo della Porta. The statue of Neptune was added in late 1800’s to balance the Fountain of the Moors.

Fountain of Neptune, Piazza Navona

.In the center of the square is the Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Baroque masterpiece: Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) commissioned by Pope Innocent X featuring 4 river gods that support an Egyptian obelisk brought from Circus of Maxentius near the Ancient Appia Way.

Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona

The four river gods represent a major river from the 4 known continents of the that area: Nile River (representing Africa), Danube River (representing Europe), The Ganges River (representing Asia), and the Rio del la Plata (representing the Americas).

Sant’Agnese in Agone Church

Sant’Agnese in Agone is a 17th century Baroque church that faces the Fountain of the Four Rivers and it was dedicated to Saint Agnes as the place where she was martyred in the Stadium of Diomitian.

Piazza Navona is one of the Liveliest Squares in Rome!

The square itself is alive with visitors and locals alike who gather to enjoy the atmosphere: street performers, musicians, artists selling their own painted masterpieces, cartoonists drawing their clients for memorable vacation souvenirs, visit various shops….and of course to enjoy lunch or dinner at the many outdoor cafes and restaurants.

If you’d like to visit Piazza Navona, you can select any of the following tours provided by Stefano’s RomeCabs and Stefano Rome Tours, or request a visit to this fabulous square on any of our other tours that does not include it in its suggested itinerary.

Thank you very much for choosing Stefano’s RomeCabs for your Transfers, Day Tours and Shore Excursions from Civitavecchia, Livorno and Naples. We look forward to welcoming you to Italy!

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The RomeCabs Team
http://www.RomeCabs.com

Tags: "Rome Cabs", Angels and Demons Tour, Panoramic Rome for Cruisers Tour, Piazza Navona, Postcard from Rome, Rome in 2 days tour, RomeCabs, Stefano's RomeCabs

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