FONTANA DEI FIUMI

The fountain was designed by Bernini. The statues which represent the four rivers were sculptured by Ercole Antonio Raggi (the most famous Bernini’s pupil): the Danube; Cosimo Antonio Fancelli: the Nile; Claudio Poussin: the Ganges; Francesco Baratta: the Rio de la Plata.

The fountain is enriched by plants and animals: a horse, a lion, a crocodile and a dolphin.

An obelisk of Domitian age (about 90 A.D.) rises on the fountain leaning onto a thin marble basement, causing fears respect for its stability. Bernini reassured everybody:   
He went to the fountain with his assistants and tied the obelisk to the near buildings by means of a silk thread!

The obelisk	The obelisk	Danube and Ganges rivers	Danube and Ganges rivers	Danube
Danube	Gange	Rio de la Plata	Rio de la Plata	Nile
The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain
	The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain	The animals in the fountain