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The Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore: the story of the vanished dragons and the papal eagles
In front of the basilica of the same name, the Fountain of Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome is a key work of the early Roman Baroque period. Architect Carlo Maderno designed it in 1615, one year after erecting the enormous Column of Peace that now towers above it. This column is the sole survivor of the eight that once stood inside the Basilica of Maxentius — a true piece of imperial Rome repurposed.
The Pope's eagles and the lost dragons
Water flows from an elegant basin, but the details tell a story of power. The bronze eagles are the heraldic symbol of Pope Paul V Borghese, who commissioned the work. Yet there is a mystery. At one time, on the long sides, there were also dragons — another emblem of the Borghese family. They are no longer there, having been removed and subsequently lost.
One project, two masterpieces
Maderno conceived the fountain as a theatrical base for the column, a marble giant standing over 14 metres tall. And at the very top, completing the pope's vision, is the bronze statue of the Virgin and Child, the work of French sculptor Guillaume Berthélot. The entire complex was conceived to celebrate the Virgin Mary.
The fountain is a public monument, and is always accessible. It is located in Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, and can be reached on foot from Termini station or via metro line A (Termini) and line B (Cavour).
