Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

54  INTRODUCING ROME

Rome’s Best: Fountains and Obelisks

Rome has some of the loveliest fountains in the world.
Many of them are the work of the greatest Renaissance
and Baroque sculptors. Some fountains are flamboyant
displays, others restful trickles of water. Many are simply
drinking fountains, while a few cascade from the sides
of buildings. Obelisks date from far earlier in the city’s
history. Although some of them were commissioned
by Roman emperors, many are even older and were
brought to Rome by conquering armies. A more
detailed overview of Rome’s fountains and obelisks
is on pages 56–7.
Piazza San Pietro
Twin fountains give life to Piazza del Popolo
the splendid monumental Nineteenth-century marble
piazza of St. Peter’s. Maderno lions and fountains surround
designed the one on the an ancient obelisk in the center
Vatican side in 1614; the other of the piazza. Piazza di
was later built to match. Spagna

Vatican
Piazza
Piazza della
Navona Rotonda

Campo
de’ Fiori
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi Capitol
The fountain of the four rivers Janiculum
is the work of Bernini. The four
figures represent the Ganges, the
Plate, the Danube and the Nile.
Trastevere

Aventine
Obelisk of Santa
Maria sopra Minerva
The Egyptian obelisk,
held up by Bernini’s
marble elephant,
dates from the
6th century BC.

Fontana delle Tartarughe
One of Rome’s more secret fountains, this jewel
of Renaissance sculpture shows youths helping
tortoises into a basin.

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