Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains), Rome

Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains), Rome

They say, good things come in pairs. Well, in the case of Via delle Quattro Fontane, they seem to double that. Just as the name suggests, the "Street of Four Fountains" proudly showcases four late Renaissance fountains, commissioned by Pope Sixtus V between 1588 and 1593. The quartet of represents the Tiber River, symbolizing Rome; the Arno River, symbolizing Florence; the Goddess Juno, symbolizing strength; and the Goddess Diana, symbolizing chastity.

Domenico Fontana is credited with the creation of the fountains depicting the two rivers and Juno, while Pietro da Cortona sculpted the statue of Diana. Adjacent to these captivating fountains stands the Baroque-style Church of St. Charles (San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane) designed by the renowned Francesco Borromini.

A comprehensive interpretation of the fountains' statues aligns them with Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi). In this theory, each statue represents a nymph or river god symbolizing a generic river from one of the four known parts of the world during that time. This notion finds further support in the alignment of the statues with the four cardinal points, adding a conceptual depth to the symbolism they embody.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rome. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains) on Map

Sight Name: Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains)
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Rome, Italy

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Rome Introduction Walking Tour I

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Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus who were raised by a she-wolf. However, the pair argued about who had the support of the gods, and Romulus ended up killing Remus in a fight on what became Palatine Hill. Thus, Romulus named the city after himself and declared himself as king.

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Rome is one of the world's top living museums, replete with some of the most iconic pieces of art on the face of the planet. Famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, to mention but a few, had lived and worked here and left indelible marks in the city.

Needless to say that the abundance of masterpieces makes Rome crowded with tourists anxious to see them, causing...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

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