Piazza Navona is probably Rome’s most celebrated square with its ornate fountains, baroque palazzi and colourful cast of street artists, hawkers and tourists.

The piazza was designed by a great Italian artist, Bernini, in early 17th century over the ruins of the 1st-century Stadio di Domiziano. This is also why the square resembles a hippodrome.

The piazza is centered around Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, also deigned by Bernini. In the middle of the fountain there is an ancient Egyptian obelisk with a sculpture of a river god on each side. Each god represents a river from a continent in which papal authority was influent. Danube represents Europe, Nile Africa, the Ganges Asia, while the Río de la Plata represents the Americas.