Rome - Piazza Navona

The Piazza Navona is one of the most characteristic Baroque squares in Rome, constantly filled with crowds of visitors as well as Romans. Street musicians play popular melodies as street artists and souvenir traders offer their wares. Visitors should be prepared to pay high prices for such treats as the legendary chocolate confection "Tartuffo" in the Tre Scaline or an ice-cream at the Cafe di Colombia. The palaces and churches around the square still mark out the area of the stadium (240m/790ft long, 65m/215ft across) constructed here by Domitian. During the Middle Ages the arena was used for water festivals and horse races. It was rebuilt with its magnificent series of palaces and churches (including Sant'Agnese) by Borromini during the Baroque period.