A Morning around Piazza Navona
Start in the courtyard of the Sapienza, marvelling at the remarkable façade of Sant’Ivo
(see Sant’Ivo).
Head around the church’s right side and out the back exit on to Via
della Dogana Vecchia. If you need a morning pick-me-up, turn left and
then right into Piazza Sant’Eustachio (if the namesake church is open,
pop in for an early 18th-century interior). In the elongated piazza to
the left are fine views of Sant’Ivo’s dome and two great cafés to choose
from, Camillo and Sant’ Eustachio.
Return to Via della Dogana Vecchia and turn right to visit the Caravaggio works inside San Luigi dei Francesi
(see San Luigi dei Francesi). Continue up the street to Via delle Coppelle and turn left for more Caravaggio at Sant’Agostino. Continue into Piazza delle Cinque Lune and walk a few yards to the left down Corso del Rinascimento (see Sant’Ivo) and browse the quality liqueurs and old-fashioned beauty products, all made by monks.
Around the corner is Palazzo Altemps,
now full of Classical statuary. Spend a good hour inside. Then relax
from the morning’s sightseeing with a stroll amid the street performers
and splashing fountains of Piazza Navona
(see Piazza Navona). Enjoy a tartufo ice cream or a full lunch at the wonderful Tre Scalini
(see Tre Scalini), before ending the morning window-shopping along the antiques of Via dei Coronari
(see Via dei Coronari).
Best of the Rest
-
Sant’Agnese in Agone
This
church was built in honour of a 13-year-old girl who was stripped in a
brothel but whose hair miraculously grew to cover her nakedness.
Borromini’s façade is a wonderful play of concave and convex shapes.-
Piazza Navona
-
Open 9am–noon, 4–7pm Tue–Sun
-
Free
St Agnes statue, Sant’Agnese in Agone
-
