Bernini’s Magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers Restored for the Jubilee Year
Rome’s iconic Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, a masterpiece by the Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has been unveiled following a meticulous seven-month restoration project.
The Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, officially turned on the water at the historic fountain, which dates back to the mid-17th century, declaring that the monument has been restored to its original splendor.
The restoration of this iconic fountain was completed in preparation for the Vatican’s Jubilee Year, set to be inaugurated by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve, as part of the city’s Jubilee initiatives.
Gualtieri emphasized that Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, a “Baroque masterpiece,” was commissioned by Pope Innocent X Pamphilj for the Jubilee of 1650.
The restoration process involved the removal of limescale, algae, and damage caused by mineral deposits and air pollution, two decades after its previous restoration.
“This fountain, together with the Trevi Fountain, is the most important in Rome,” stated Claudio Parisi Presicce, the city’s superintendent for cultural heritage. “It was constructed using travertine for the rock base and marble for the sculptures. The obelisk was sourced from the Villa of Maxentius and was acquired by Pope Innocent X, who intended to leave a monument for this significant occasion that would endure in history.”
Recently, Rome also completed the restoration of three other historic fountains: one in front of the Pantheon and two at opposite ends of Piazza Navona – the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Moor.
Photo credit: Roma Capitale
