Papal Prince

The man behind many creations throughout Rome is Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a favorite artist of three popes in a row. He lived from 1598-1680, and during his lifetime created brilliant works of art and planned many spaces which we marvel at today.

One huge impact he had was on the Church, where we can see Bernini's influence right as we step into the Vatican. He designed Piazza San Pietro, where enormous colonnades create the makings of an open circle, welcoming people into the Basilica with the Church's open arms. Inside is his famous baldacchino, a "magnificent canopy of gilded bronze" which stands over the papal altar.

Bernini's work is found in many other piazzas; he not only designed the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, but also the piazza itself. His work inspired the Trevi Fountain, and the obelisk in front of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is held up by the marble elephant he carved to be the base.


Gian Lorenzo Bernini gave so much to the city of Rome, and I think it pays a great deal of respect to him to continuously see people flocking to his creations, even hundreds of years after their beginnings.

1. Publishing, DK. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides). New York: DK Travel, 2006.