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

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