Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains), Rome

They say, good things come in pairs. Well, in the case of Via delle Quattro Fontane, they seem to double that. Just as the name suggests, the "Street of Four Fountains" proudly showcases four late Renaissance fountains, commissioned by Pope Sixtus V between 1588 and 1593. The quartet of represents the Tiber River, symbolizing Rome; the Arno River, symbolizing Florence; the Goddess Juno, symbolizing strength; and the Goddess Diana, symbolizing chastity.

Domenico Fontana is credited with the creation of the fountains depicting the two rivers and Juno, while Pietro da Cortona sculpted the statue of Diana. Adjacent to these captivating fountains stands the Baroque-style Church of St. Charles (San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane) designed by the renowned Francesco Borromini.

A comprehensive interpretation of the fountains' statues aligns them with Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi). In this theory, each statue represents a nymph or river god symbolizing a generic river from one of the four known parts of the world during that time. This notion finds further support in the alignment of the statues with the four cardinal points, adding a conceptual depth to the symbolism they embody.