Bernini: it’s a name you may not know, yet you’ll spend countless moments of your trip to Rome admiring his unrivaled sculpting talents.
Bernini’s sculptures are scattered about Rome. Fountains and full-size figures are among his fascinating works.
Here’s where you’ll find many of the Bernini sculptures in Rome.
Image Credit: Getty Images, martinhosmart. Image Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Rome
Where are the Bernini sculptures in Rome?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s sculptures are located throughout Rome, both in museums and in public spaces. You’ll walk the Eternal City for an eternal number of steps during your visit; but if you want to take advantage of Rome’s metro, we’ll name the closest stations near each Bernini piece.
See also: our guide to Italy’s trains and Rome’s metros
St Peter’s Basilica
Closest metro: Ottaviano
Vatican City is a sensory overload — and that’s before you even visit the Vatican Museums. Two Bernini sculptures cut through the noise in St. Peter’s Basilica: The Chair of Saint Peter, and his impressive bronze statue, Baldacchino.
Galleria Borghese
Closest metro: Spagna
The Borghese Gallery rivals St. Peter’s Basilica in coveting Bernini’s greatest works. Galleria Borghese proudly showcases a number of Bernini’s sculptures, including The Rape of Proserpina. Apollo and Daphne, and Bernini’s David, are both housed in this Baroque palace.
Santa Maria della Vittoria
Closest metro: Repubblica
In the Cornaro Chapel of the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, you’ll find the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. This Bernini sculpture is the altarpiece and undoubtedly the central focus of this small space. Bernini designed the entire room, so don’t forget to admire all other intricate details surrounding Saint Teresa of Avila.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Maremagnum. Image Location: Fiumi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy
Piazza Navona
Closest metro: Barberini
If not one of the most famous Bernini fountains, the Fiumi Fountain is certainly one of the most photographed. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi sits in the center of Piazza Navona. It has appeared in countless films, television shows, and traveler scrapbooks.
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Closest metro: Baberini
A few doors down from Palazzo Bonaparte is the Galleria Doria Pamphilj. This private collection features artworks by Caravaggio, Raphael, Claude Lorrain, and Velázquez, among many others. Bernini’s white carrara marble bust, the Portrait of Innocent X, is also displayed.
Ponte Sant’Angelo
Closest metro: Ottaviano
The Ponte Sant’Angelo was finished in the 2nd century CE — it was hundreds and hundreds of years later that Bernini would blow out the candles on his first birthday cake. Still, the sculptor got to leave his mark on this historical Roman bridge: ten of the angel statues lining the bridge were crafted by Bernini in 1688.
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Closest metro: Barberini
You’ll spot the Basilica of Saint Mary of Minerva from the Pantheon. Inside, you can see Bernini’s Monument to Maria Raggi; outside in the Piazza della Minerva, the popular Bernini sculpture known as the Elephant and Obelisk.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Filippo Maria Bianchi. Image Location: Triton Fountain, Piazza Barnerini, Rome, Italy
Piazza Barberini
Closest metro: Barberini
The Triton Fountain stands tall in bustling Piazza Barberini. This Bernini fountain, built for Pope Urban VIII, is located just beyond the Galleria Nazionale D'Arte Antica. This gallery also showcases Bernini’s paintings, should you want to view his talents in another medium.
Capitoline Museums
Closest metro: Colosseo
Among the many Greek and Roman statues within the Capitoline Museums, you’ll find two Bernini sculptures: the Bust of Medusa and the statue of Pope Urban VIII.
Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore
Closest station: Roma Termini
Before hopping on the train at Rome’s main station, end your visit at Bernini’s final resting place. Bernini died in Rome in 1680. His body was laid to rest within the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore. It is believed that Bernini crafted the elegant spiral stone staircase that connects this building to the New Sacristy.
What was Gian Lorenzo Bernini famous for?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was a 17th-century Italian sculptor and architect. Bernini sculptures defined the Baroque style and he’s considered the greatest sculptor of the century. Rome is Bernini’s living gallery; not only will you find Bernini sculptures throughout the Eternal City’s streets, but you’ll also find sculptures within museums, galleries, and iconic sites.
What is the best Bernini in Rome?
There is no unanimous decision on which of Bernini’s artworks in Rome is the best. You’ve got Bernini fountains, like the Fountain of the Four Rivers that dominates the Piazza Navona; sculptures like Bernini’s David and the Apollo and Daphne, two of the greatest highlights of the Borghese Gallery and Museum; and lastly, no talk about Bernini’s sculptures is worth its words without mentioning St. Peter’s Baldachin in the famous Vatican City church.
Did Bernini design St Peter's Basilica?
Yes, Bernini did design aspects of St Peter’s Basilica — but the iconic church was a team effort. Donato Bramante, Giuliano da Sangallo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Bernini all understood the assignment and contributed to this intense group project. Bernini specifically built the bronze Baldacchino and St. Peter’s chair.
See also: keen to explore more of Italy after admiring Bernini’s work? Here is our guide to the best day trips from Rome by train.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Kino Alyse. Image Location: Fiumi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy