Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Four Facing Fountains


On my way back from Santa Maria della Vittoria church, I had to stop and drink from one of the four fountain statues located on the four corners of the intersection of Via XX Settembre and Via delle Quattro Fontane. The fountains represent two rivers, the Arno and Tiber, and two godly creatures, the goddess Diana and the god Juno. I am drinking from the Arno River (male laying with a tree) fountain which is actually built into one of the front walls belonging to San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane church. This church was designed by Francesco Borromini in 1634 and contains an appealing spiral staircase which leads down to the basement crypt. Borromini wanted to be buried here, but instead committed suicide and was buried in San Giovanni dei Fiorentini instead.

Some information taken from the Blue Guide, Rome (9th Edition) by Somerset Norton.

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