Overview

The Fountain of the Four Rivers, an extraordinary Baroque work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, dominates the heart of Piazza Navona in Rome. Commissioned by Pope Innocent X Pamphilj between 1648 and 1651, this creation symbolises the universal dominion of the Church through the allegorical representation of four great rivers, each representing a continent known at the time: the Nile for Africa, the Danube for Europe, the Ganges for Asia and the Rio de la Plata for the Americas.

The structure stands on a travertine base, sculpted to recreate a rocky landscape from which the mighty figures of the rivers emerge, each accompanied by symbolic elements of flora and fauna. The Nile, by Giacomo Antonio Fancelli, has its head veiled to symbolise its then unknown source, and is flanked by a lion and a palm tree. The Danube, sculpted by Antonio Raggi, touches the papal coat of arms to indicate its proximity to Italy, with a horse at its side. The Ganges, attributed to Claude Poussin, is represented with an oar, an allusion to the river's navigability, and is accompanied by a dragon. Finally, the Rio de la Plata, by Francesco Baratta, is depicted seated on a pile of coins, a symbol of the riches of the New World, and an armadillo stands beside him.

In the centre of the composition stands the Agonal Obelisk, an ancient Egyptian monument in red granite, originally from the Circus of Maxentius. The obelisk, about 16.5 metres high, is crowned by the dove with an olive branch, the heraldic emblem of the Pamphilj family.

This fountain, with its extraordinary fusion of sculpture and architecture, represents one of the highest expressions of Roman Baroque art, celebrating the universality of papal power and the harmony between nature and the divine.

Enrich your visit the Fountain of the Four Rivers by participating in the experience of Rome: Famous Squares and Fountains Guided Tour.