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Domenico Fontana

Domenico Fontana (Melide, Lugano 1543 – Naples 1607), engineer and architect, became the Pope’s architect in 1585 when Sixtus V was elected, and redesigned the streets and squares of Rome.

When Sixtus V died, he lost all his appointments and moved to Naples.
His activity in Rome was incessant, also thanks to his collaboration with his nephew Carlo Maderno, and with Giacomo della Porta.

Besides town planning, he also developed the design for the Vatican Library (1587-1590)

and the Lateran Palace (1587). He designed the Felice Aqueduct and the Fountain of Moses.

With Giacomo della Porta, he erected the dome of St. Peter’s, thus completing Michelangelo’s project.

He worked tirelessly during the reign of Sixtus V, and with the help of his brother oversaw all the building sites in Rome as architect, engineer, director of works and contractor. Besides the works mentioned, he also built a number of palaces, some of which, such as Palazzo Montalto, no longer exist today.

Palazzo Montalto

One of his specialities was the movement and erecting of ancient obelisks. He erected the obelisks in St. Peter’s Square, as well as in Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore and Piazza San Giovanni Laterano.

Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore	Piazza del Popolo
Saint Peter's Square	Saint Peter's Square