Rome Tourist Attractions Near Piazza Navona – Top Sights & Walking Itinerary
By ANL | UPDATED:
This Rome walking itinerary around Piazza Navona is designed to help you navigate the city’s Baroque squares, ancient monuments and world-famous religious landmarks in a logical and enjoyable route. Whether you are visiting for a few hours or planning a full day, this guide shows what to see near Piazza Navona in Rome without wasting time or missing key highlights.
This guide focuses specifically on the attractions around Piazza Navona in Rome’s historic centre. For a full 3-day Rome itinerary covering all major landmarks, see our dedicated itinerary guide. This walking route is even more meaningful when approached as part of a broader cultural exploration of the city, following the principles outlined in Cultural Travel Method.
For a full structured plan covering all major landmarks across three days in the city, see our 3-day Rome itinerary.
Which sights are located near Piazza Navona
The popular and scenic Piazza Navona is a must-see during your Rome stay. You can easily spend a whole day sightseeing around the famous square, including the iconic tourist attractions and sights just around the corner. These sights include the Pantheon, the Vatican Museums, and St Peter’s Basilica, which is even the most significant landmark in Rome for some visitors!
This guide focuses on walking between key sights in Rome’s historic centre around Piazza Navona, including Campo de’ Fiori, the Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo, with optional extension routes towards Vatican City. It is designed for visitors exploring Rome on foot in the historic centre. The name ‘flower field’ refers to the Middle Ages, when this part of the city was a meadow.
In ancient times, this area was an empty space between Pompey’s Theatre and the Tiber. Little by little, beautiful Renaissance palaces were erected, such as the Orsini family palace and the Palazzo della Cancelleria, which still flank the square. At that time, the surrounding streets were market streets, and the square became a cherished part of the Via Papale, the Pope’s road.
Over time, Campo de ‘Fiori became a daily vegetable and fish market – and is today still one of the fascinating sights in Rome – a vibrant and popular market frequented by both local residents and visitors! Stroll around and perhaps pick up some enticing spices, fresh fruit, vinegar, wine, limoncello, panini, and other souvenirs!
The Pantheon | Photo: djedj / Pixabay
Nearby is the Pantheon, the largest unsupported dome in the world! Its diameter is 43.30 m (142 ft). It is very well proportioned since the diameter is precisely the distance from the floor to the top of the dome!
The structure is an ancient Roman temple, supposedly initiated under the reign of Trajan (98-117 CE) and completed by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD. However, according to the legend, the Pantheon was dedicated to Rome’s founder, Romulus!
As the best-preserved building in Rome, it provides a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience ancient Rome inside the rotunda.
The dome, predominantly Roman in style, has a circular 8.8-metre opening to the sky, a so-called oculus. Notice the massive rotunda wall, which is unbelievably thick: 6 metres!
In the past, there were statues of Venus, Mars, and Julius Caesar inside the building. Many years later, the Pantheon was converted into a Catholic church.
Street at the Pantheon | Photo: djedj / Pixabay
As you study the porch, you’ll notice its distinctly classical Greek style — quite different from the dome.
Inside the Pantheon, you’ll also find the tombs of Italian monarchs from the period 1870–1946, as well as the tomb of the artist Raphael (1483–1520).
The Pantheon is also included in many broader Rome walking routes. If you want a broader walking plan across Rome’s historic centre, explore our cultural travel approach guide.
A short distance from the Pantheon, you will arrive at the stunning Piazza Navona.
Now, it is time to experience one of Rome’s most breathtaking sights: Piazza Navona. The square is home to three impressive fountains: the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, the Fontana del Moro and the Fontana del Nettuno.
La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi means the ‘Fountain of Four Rivers’. It was designed by Bernini in 1651 for Pope Innocent X. Around an Egyptian obelisk centrally located in the Piazza Navona, the four rivers, the Nile (representing Africa), the Danube (representing Europe), the Ganges (representing Asia), and the Río de la Plata (representing the Americas), symbolise the extension of the papal power.
Piazza Navona.
The Fontana del Moro from 1575 at the southern end of the Piazza Navona shows a Moor standing in a conch shell, fighting with a dolphin and surrounded by four Tritons. The Moor, designed by Bernini, was added in 1653.
The third fountain on the beautiful Piazza Navona is the Fontana del Nettuno, the Neptune Fountain, from 1574, depicting Neptune surrounded by sea nymphs, added later, in 1878. It was designed by Giacomo della Porta, who also stood behind the basin of the Fontana del Moro, and was funded by Pope Gregory XIII.
The Piazza Navona is a vibrant square with restaurants and street artists who contribute to the lively atmosphere. There are plenty of lunch options around the square, so be sure to try some authentic Italian gelato and relax in one of Rome’s most stunning squares!
Castel Sant’Angelo | Photo: Bernd Buchfeld / Pixabay
Continuing towards the Tiber River, you will reach Castel Sant’Angelo or the ‘Castle of the Holy Angel’. It is an old fortress in a cylindrical building located on the right riverbank. Its construction was initiated in the year 135 by Emperor Hadrian, who intended to use it as a mausoleum for himself. His ashes were placed here after he died in 138 AD. Subsequently, the remains of other emperors were also placed at this location, the last being Emperor Caracalla in 217 AD.
The massive construction was converted into a military fortress in 401 AD and included in the Aurelian Walls.
Years later, a corridor was established, connecting Castel Sant’Angelo with the Vatican City so the Pope could use it in an emergency. Pope Clement VII used it as a convenient refuge at a later time in history. Finally, it also got to serve as a prison and even an execution site for some years!
The Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II.
A longer walk from this area leads towards the Vatican Museums, one of Rome’s most important cultural sites.
The Vatican Museums are within the Vatican City, the Holy See’s independent city state in Rome. In addition to the cultural museums, including the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican City State holds the impressive St Peter’s Basilica. That is the world’s smallest sovereign state with both diplomatic and religious independence, only covering an area of 49 hectares and having a population of approximately 825 residents. It is ruled by the Pope, the bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church.
In the 16th century, the Vatican Museums were founded by precisely Pope Julius II to display the artworks belonging to the popes. The museums were opened to the public outside the Vatican City by Pope Clement XIV in 1771.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a unit maintained by the Holy See serving as the de facto military of the Vatican City | Photo: Manuel Romero / Pixabay
The Vatican Museums boast some of the most outstanding art collections in the world. It is huge! 7 km of corridors inside the museums contribute to the fame of the Vatican art.
Here, you will encounter a diverse range of exhibits, from ancient Egyptian sculptures and mummies to renowned Etruscan art and masterpieces of painting.
As the icing on the cake, you will marvel at Michelangelo’s breathtaking Renaissance ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, painted between 1508 and 1512, and the spectacular tapestries by Raphael! Other Renaissance artists who have contributed to the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums include Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pinturicchio, Perugino and Luca Signorelli.
St Peter’s Basilica.
If you are continuing your Italy journey, you may also enjoy planning your next destination with our Florence 3 day itinerary, another key Renaissance city.
Visit another iconic Vatican sights: the spectacular St. Peter’s Basilica, one of Rome’s top attractions. Its vast interior can accommodate around 20,000 people.
At 190 meters (624 feet) long and 46 meters (150 feet) high, with the dome soaring to 136 meters (447 feet), St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world and an impressive pilgrimage site for Christians. Several buildings that would be considered very large elsewhere could easily fit entirely inside the dome! You will marvel at its height once standing right under it!
Before the current basilica, also known as the New St Peter’s Basilica, there was an earlier construction. This old church was completely torn down before the ‘new’ church saw the light of day. Its construction was initiated by Pope Julius II in 1506 and only completed in 1615 under Paul V.
Inside, you will find the St. Peter’s Baldachin, a Baroque bronze canopy sculpted by Bernini, and the Pietà, a Renaissance masterpiece by Michelangelo depicting the body of Jesus in the lap of his mother Mary after the crucifixion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main attractions near Piazza Navona?
The main attractions near Piazza Navona include the Pantheon, Campo de’ Fiori, Castel Sant’Angelo and Vatican City.
How far is the Pantheon from Piazza Navona?
The Pantheon is around 5 to 10 minutes on foot from Piazza Navona, making it one of the closest major landmarks.
Can you walk from Piazza Navona to Vatican City?
Yes, it takes around 20 to 25 minutes to walk from Piazza Navona to Vatican City via the Tiber River.
Is Piazza Navona worth visiting in Rome?
Yes, Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s most beautiful Baroque squares and a key highlight of the historic centre.
What is the best time to visit Piazza Navona?
Early morning or late evening is best to avoid crowds and enjoy the fountains in a calmer atmosphere.
How much time do you need around Piazza Navona?
You should plan at least half a day to explore Piazza Navona and nearby attractions at a relaxed pace.
What is the nearest metro station to Piazza Navona?
The closest metro stations are Barberini and Spagna, both requiring a short walk to reach the square.
Are you going to Florence? Check out which museums and sights you can explore in this Renaissance city: Florence Attractions Itinerary
Read next: Sightseeing in Siena
Images courtesy of Travel In Culture. Selected images from Pixabay.