Rome Hôtels - Réservations

The square was begun by Bernini in 1656 and completed in 1667. The colonnades have been designed as two arcs of a circle like in a gesture of welcome extended to the pilgrims of the world. Bernini wanted to give an effect of surprise by enclosing the square through the colonnades so that the basilica was hidden to the view of the visitor until the entrance in the square. At the centre of the square stands an obelisk brought from Alexandria of Egypt in the 1st century under Caligola's reign. The two fountains are attributed to Carlo Maderno and Bernini.