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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

The Golden Century
The popes of the XVIIth century devoted time and resources to the embellishment of Rome in an unprecedented scale. Most of the activities were focussed on the completion of St Peter's which was achieved in 1667. Another large effort was made in Piazza Navona where Pope Innocentius X built a large palace, a new church and a new fountain. Works of art were very much praised from a religious viewpoint, as long as they had a moral intent; this led to the justification of nudes and of mytological subjects. Apollo and Daphne a statue by Bernini with a very profane subject was turned into a fit ornament for a cardinal's palace by adding an inscription explaining that the search for worldly pleasures yields nothing. From a political viewpoint the first half of the century was characterized by the Thirty years' War which ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia. The final result of the war was very disappointing for the Popes as it confirmed the religious status quo, with a large part of Europe remaining outside the Roman Catholic authority. The art of this period is called Baroque. The term baroque meaning unusual, bizarre, irregular was first used at the end of the XVIIIth century by the neoclassical critics to define the developments of Art which followed the Renaissance.
You can see my directories of Baroque architects, Baroque sculptures and of works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini, who both had a leading role in Baroque architecture.

Paulus V - the Pope who brought the water (Camillo Borghese 1605 - 1621)

Two coats of arms

These are among the most elaborated coats of arms one can see in Rome. The first is on the walls of Diocletianus's Baths (map2-14/G1). The second is painted at the entrance of the Grotte Vaticane in St. Peter's (map1-1/B2). The dragon and the eagle are on many fountains celebrating the acqueduct reactivated by Pope Paulus V (Acqua Paola). Visit the Exhibition for a wide selection of these symbols, the Palais de la Monnaie in Avignon and Villa Borghese and Palazzo Borghese in Rome to learn more about the Borghese family.

Gregorius XV (Alessandro Ludovisi 1621 - 1623) click here to see his coat of arms in S. Ignazio.

Urbanus VIII - the Great Protector of Bernini (Maffeo Barberini 1623 - 1644)

The fountain of the Bees

The bees of the Barberini family are perhaps the commonest sign of the popes in Rome. At the start of Via Veneto (map2-13/F2) they come to life. Visit Exhibition for an analysis of the Barberini's second symbol. For many other coats of arms of Pope Urbanus VIII visit Filippo Juvarra's plates Exhibition and Palazzo Barberini.

Innocentius X - the Pope who loved everybody (Giovan Battista Pamphylj 1644 - 1655)

The fountain of the Four RiversThe fountain of the Four Rivers

Piazza Navona (map1-30/D3) is the celebration of this Pope. Here Bernini's masterpiece, the Four Rivers fountain, celebrates the dove with the olive leaves. I could not make up my mind on choosing one of the two coats of arms, so I put them both. The same indecision occurred to Filippo Juvarra, who included them both in his plates. For many other coats of arms of Innocentius X visit Filippo Juvarra's plates Exhibition.
See by visiting the Exhibition.
S. Andrea al Quirinale has another interesting coat of arms by Bernini.

Alexander VII - the Pope who built everything (Fabio Chigi 1655 - 1667)

The Colonnade of Bernini

Piazza S. Pietro (map1-2/B2) is a celebration of this pope. Six enormous coats of arms celebrate this Pope who discussed at length with Bernini the plans for completing St Peter's square. Also Scala Regia, the stairs leading from the square to the Vatican Palace were designed by Bernini. A portrait of this Pope with his coat of arms is presented by the Old Library H. Schumann of Zurich. For many other coats of arms of Pope Alexander VII visit Filippo Juvarra's plates Exhibition and for a thorough review of how he ensured his fame visit and the Fountain of Acqua Acetosa.

Clemens IX - his motto: "Aliis non sibi clemens" (Giulio Rospigliosi 1667 - 1669)

The Angels' Bridge

The bridge built by the Emperor Adrianus and named Elios became the Angels' Bridge (map1-6/C2) because of the statues designed by Bernini which Alexander VII wanted as an introduction to St Peter's. But Alexander died and the decoration of the bridge was followed up by Pope Clemens IX; he placed his coat of arms on the base of the statues next to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Clemens X - elected at 80 (Emilio Altieri 1670 - 1676)

S. Maria Maggiore

This theatrical view of the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore (map2-15/G2) closes the Baroque era. You can see another coat of arms of Pope Clemens X in Palazzo Altieri.

(In the background the coat of arms of Pope Gregorius XV in the church of S. Ignazio).



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