The Streets surrounding the Navona

Take the southwest exit from the Navona along the street on the side of the Brazilian Embassy. You come out at the Piazza Pasquino with the ancient 'speaking' statue of Pasquino. Erected in 1501, Romans could and still do leave lampoons or derogatory social commentary attached to the statue.

The statue is against the large neoclassical Palazzo Braschi that forms the end of the Navona and now houses the ‘Museo da Roma’ collection of ancient statuary. During WWII this building was Mussolini’s political headquarters.

The street leading back to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the Via San Pantaleo.

The Pasquino statue is at the start of the Via del Governo Vecchio, home to many restaurants (and a pub that shows the rugby) and that further along has a number of reasonable clothing stores and a supermarket.

Back in the Navona... if you take the exit on the south-east side, you will come out at the Via Rinascimento. There are two significant buildings immediately opposite and to the right. One is the Church of Saint Ivo (only open Sunday mornings) which features a fabulous spiral cupola on top of the dome which can be seen from the outside, preferably from the rear side. The next large building to the right towards the end of the street is a classic example of Fascist architecture with an inscription by Mussolini on the façade.

About 100 metres along the Via Rinascimento on your right is the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the main street linking the Piazza Venezia with the bridges over the Tiber and on to the Vatican.  Immediately in front is The Church of Saint Andrea which had for many years after its construction in the early 1600’s, the third largest dome in Rome after Saint Peter’s and the Pantheon. This church is well known as the setting for the first act of Puccini’s opera 'Tosca'. Note the statue of the angel at the top left of the facade... his (her?) twin is missing from the right side. Apparently the pope took a dislike to the first and refused to pay... so the sculptor refused to deliver.

To your left on the Via Rinascimento is the Palazzo Madama, office of the Italian Prime Minister, often with ornately dressed guards outside. The Italian Senate building (a former Medici Palace) is to its left and a number of government offices behind.

The small Via degli Staderari to the right of the PM’s building, leads (should you survive the treacherous pedestrian crossing) through to the Piazza di San Eustachio, reportedly home to the best café in Rome, though in my opinion, not the best coffee … that is to be found at the The Cafe Tasso D’Oro, close-by the Pantheon … (see separate page). Just before the piazza is the rather forlorn looking Fontana di Piazza S’Eustachio which was uncovered during excavations, believed to be from Nero's baths which were on this site, but remains unidentified.

Take the narrow pedestrian only Via del Salvatore, off the Via Rinascimento to the left of the PM’s office. You first pass the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi ... also known as The French Church ... where, in the Contarelli Chapel, there are no less than three Caravaggio’s to be seen for free!

Follow the Via del Salvatore further and you come to The Pantheon. That is subject of a whole section... see the Rome menu.

The Streets surrounding the Navona

Take the southwest exit from the Navona along the street on the side of the Brazilian Embassy. You come out at the Piazza Pasquino with the ancient 'speaking' statue of Pasquino. Erected in 1501, Romans could and still do leave lampoons or derogatory social commentary attached to the statue.

The statue is against the large neoclassical Palazzo Braschi that forms the end of the Navona and now houses the ‘Museo da Roma’ collection of ancient statuary. During WWII this building was Mussolini’s political headquarters.

The street leading back to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the Via San Pantaleo. I

The Pasquino statue is at the start of the Via del Governo Vecchio, home to many restaurants (and a pub that shows the rugby) and that further along has a number of reasonable clothing stores and a supermarket.

Back in the Navona...

if you take the exit on the south-east side, you will come out at the Via Rinascimento. There are two significant buildings immediately opposite and to the right. One is the Church of Saint Ivo (only open Sunday mornings) which features a fabulous spiral cupola on top of the dome which can be seen from the outside, preferably from the rear side. The next large building to the right towards the end of the street is a classic example of Fascist architecture with an inscription by Mussolini on the façade.

About 100 metres along the Via Rinascimento on your right is the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the main street linking the Piazza Venezia with the bridges over the Tiber and on to the Vatican.  Immediately in front is The Church of Saint Andrea which had for many years after its construction in the early 1600’s, the third largest dome in Rome after Saint Peter’s and the Pantheon. This church is well known as the setting for the first act of Puccini’s opera 'Tosca'. Note the statue of the angel at the top left of the facade... his (her?) twin is missing from the right side. Apparently the pope took a dislike to the first and refused to pay... so the sculptor refused to deliver.

To your left on the Via Rinascimento is the Palazzo Madama, office of the Italian Prime Minister, often with ornately dressed guards outside. The Italian Senate building (a former Medici Palace) is to its left and a number of government offices behind.

The small Via degli Staderari to the right of the PM’s building, leads (should you survive the treacherous pedestrian crossing) through to the Piazza di San Eustachio, reportedly home to the best café in Rome, though in my opinion, not the best coffee … that is to be found at the The Cafe Tasso D’Oro, close-by the Pantheon … (see separate page). Just before the piazza is the rather forlorn looking Fontana di Piazza S’Eustachio which was uncovered during excavations, believed to be from Nero's baths which were on this site, but remains unidentified.

Take the narrow pedestrian only Via del Salvatore, off the Via Rinascimento to the left of the PM’s office. You first pass the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi ... also known as The French Church ... where, in the Contarelli Chapel, there are no less than three Caravaggio’s to be seen for free!

Follow the Via del Salvatore further and you come to The Pantheon. That is subject of a whole section... see the Rome menu.