Fountain of the Four Rivers

The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is a baroque masterpiece located just in front of the Sant'Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona in central Rome. The fountain represents the four major rivers of the world at the time: the Danube in Europe, the Nile in Africa, the Rio de la Plata in the Americas, and the Ganges in Asia. The master behind this splendid work of art was Bernini, but each of the rivers was actually sculpted by different artists from the time. Poussin, for example, made the figure of the Ganges. The work was commissioned by Pope Innocent X.

At the center of Piazza Navona lies what many believe to be Berini's best work: the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers." It is, along with the Trevi Fountain, one of the best known examples of baroque urbanism. The obelisk seems to be suspended in mid-air and the figures really convey the strength of the great rivers they're meant to represent. The Piazza Navona, in general, is one of the most elegant squares in Rome and the works of Bernini, Borromini, and others make it one of my favorite. It still shares the elliptical shape of the stadium built by Domitian in the 1st century. You simply can't miss it when you're in Rome.

The centre is most impressive, with the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, complete with magnificent statues that correspond to the four major rivers known at that time, the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges and the River Plate. In it, we see a large obelisk lends it an even grander air. At both ends of the square, there are two other smaller fountains, the fountains of Neptune and of Moro with Triton, made by Giacomo della Porta.