della Porta, Giacomo

Giacomo della Porta (1533–1602)

Giacomo della Porta was born 1533 at Porlezza, Lombardy. He was an Italian architect and sculptor, who worked for many important buildings in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica. He died in Rome in 1602.

Della Porta worked with and was influenced by Michelangelo, and Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, his teacher of architecture. After Vignola died in 1573, he continued the work on Il Gesù, and in 1584 he modified its façade after his own designs. From 1573 he was the leader of the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica, and later he colaborated with Domenico Fontana. He completed the cupola in 1588-1590.

Giacomo della Porta completed a lot of Rome's fountains from the 16th century. Including the fountains in Piazza del Popolo, the Fontana di Nettuno and Fontana del Moro in Piazza Navona.

Important Buildings by Giacomo della Porta

  • Oratorio del SS. Crocifisso
  • Chiesa del Gesù
  • Fountains at the Palazzo Borghese
  • Fountains in Piazza Colonna
  • Small fountains at Piazza Navona
  • One fountain at the Piazza della Rotonda
  • Palazzo Senatorio at the Capitol Hill
  • Palazzo della Sapienza
  • Palazzo Capizucchi
  • Santa Maria dei Monti
  • Sant'Atanasio dei Greci
  • Façade of San Luigi dei Francesi
  • Fontana delle Tartarughe
  • Santa Maria Scala Coeli
  • Palazzo Marescotti
  • Palazzo Serlupi
  • SS. Trinità de' Monti
  • Fontana di Piazza alli Monti
  • Cupola of St. Peter's Basilica
  • Fountains at the Piazza di Santa Maria in Campitelli
  • Fountains opposite SS. Venanzio e Ansovino
  • Fontana della Terrina
  • Palazzo Fani
  • San Paolo alle Tre Fontane
  • San Nicolò in Carcere
  • Palazzo Albertoni Spinola
  • Villa Aldobrandini
  • Cappella Aldobrandini