The Fountain of the Four Rivers with an Egyptian obelisk on top in Piazza Navona, (c)Don Edgar, 2003

Piazza Navona, which follows the plan of an ancient circus, was built in monumental style by the family of Pope Innocent X (Pamphilj ).

Built over the ruins of the 1st century AD Stadium of Domitian, Piazza Navona is the pride of Baroque Rome, with sculptural and architectural gems by the masters, Bernini (the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the center, representing the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile and the Rio della Plata , the four corners of the earth), and Borromini with Rainaldi (Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone), Pietro da Cortona painted the gallery in the Pamphilj palace.

Piazza Navona contains two additional fountains sculpted by Giacomo della Porta --the Fountain of the Neptune , located at the northern area of Piazza Navona, and the Moor Fountain , located at the southern area of the piazza.

External Links

• Piazza Navona
• Four Rivers Fountain
• Fountain of Neptune
• Moor Fountain

References

John Julius Norwich, ed. The World Atlas of Architecture. p302.