Baroque Rome: Bernini vs. Borromini

A fascinating tour to discover the marvellous masterpieces of two of the best Italian artists of the 17th century, leading figure of the Baroque style but also to know better the personality and soul of two men.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Naples, 7 December 1598 – Rome, 28 November 1680) was an excellent sculptor,architect and he also painted, designed metalwork and stage sets and wrote plays. He had a very long and happy life, he had a beautiful wife and 11 children part of which worked with him. He had also a successful career. He worked in many part of Rome to create fountains, palaces, churches, funerary monuments (St. Peter Square, the Canapy and the Cathedra Petri in St. Peter Basilica, S. Andrew on the Quirinal, Barberini’s Palace, the Fountain of the four Rivers in Navona Square).

Francesco Borromini (Bissone 25 September 1599 – Rome, 2 August 1667) was a prominent architect of his time, he refurbished St. John in Laterano and he created true masterpieces as St. Charles at the four Fountains and the Oratory of Saint Phillip Neri. He didn’t love the social life in the papal court, he preferred to work and live alone. He didn’t have wife and children. He had nervous disorders and depression and finally he committed suicide at the age of 68 years old.

We start our walking tour in Navona Square where we can see the baroque Fountain of the Four Rivers made by Gian Lorenzo and the façade of St. Agnes in Agone Church project of Francesco; then we can see St. Ivo alla Sapienza, church of the old University La Sapienza,  by Francesco. 

We continue our tour in the hearth of Campo Marzio to see Montecitorio Palace, St. Andrew delle Fratte’s bell tower designed by Francesco in front of the residence of the Bernini family; then Palazzo of Propaganda Fide in which both worked against!

Last stop of the itinerary is the Barcaccia Fountain in Spanish Steps project of the father Pietro Bernini with the young Gian Lorenzo.