The intersection takes its name from its four Baroque fountains, representing the Tiber (on the San Carlo corner), the Arno, Juno, and Diana. Sadly, the fumes from constant heavy traffic have managed to deface them to the point where they're unrecognizable. Despite the traffic, it's worthwhile to take in the views from this point in all four directions: to the southwest as far as the obelisk in Piazza del Quirinale; to the northeast along Via XX Settembre to the Porta Pia; to the northwest across Piazza Barberini to the obelisk of Trinità dei Monti; and to the southeast as far as the obelisk and apse of Santa Maria Maggiore. This extraordinary prospect is a highlight of Pope Sixtus V's campaign of urban beautification and a typical example of the Baroque influence on city planning.
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