MID-19TH CENTURY

The large elliptical square of St. Peter's designed by Bernini (1598-1680) under Alexander VII and Clement IX is encircled by two curvilinear arms, formed by a colonnaded colossus composed of 284 columns. In the centre is the obelisk that Caligola had transported from Egypt and which was raised on the Square by Sistus V in 1586. The two fountains flanking it are by Carlo Maderno (1556-1629). The absence of the four large lamps added around the obelisk in 1852 place this micromosaic before that date.