Piazza Navona
An incredible jewel in the Roman Baroque scene, Piazza Navona is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Rome. Travelers, street vendors, and petty thieves flock to this wide piazza almost the entire day. But we found this pleace to quiet down after 8pm, when you can take a breather by one of the fountain side or on the benches in the perimeter while sipping an after dinner espresso.
Suggested Time Spent: 1 Hour | Admission: Free | Hours: All day, but churches are closed after midnight
What used to be an arena for naval warfare and athletic competitions, Piazza Navona hosts two of the greatest Baroque geniuses – Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. Bernini created the fountain of the rivers (Ganges, Nile, Danube and Plate) with the obelisk at the center stage; Borromini designed the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. There are two other fountains – Neptune and Moro. Around the square, there are splendid palaces, library, and a Church (Church of Nostra Signora) from the 15th century.
Around the square, there are several other masterpieces, including the Church of Saint Luigi dei Francesi which has canvasses by Caravaggio from 16th century. In a walk from Pantheon to Piazza Navona, this is hard to miss. The side streets to the east and west of the piazza are shoppers paradise, although we have found these locations not optimum for getting the best prices. Read more about shopping here.