Arch of Sixtus V

About

The Arch of Sextus V or Felice Arch is a 1585 commemorative monument in the Esquilino rione of Rome. It is positioned at the intersection of the two streets which formerly led directly to the basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, very close to the porta San Lorenzo. It celebrates the completion of the Acqua Felice, begun by pope Gregory XIII to serve the multitude of pilgrims coming to Rome for the 1575 jubilee and completed by pope Sextus V (born Felice Piergentile) during the first year of his pontificate. It is also popularly known as the arco delle pere (literally arch of the pears), after the pears in Sixtus' papal insignia, which are reproduced in travertine on the sides of the two small side arches. Other symbols of Sixtus are prominent on both facades - two stars on the sides of the main arch facing south-east, two stylised mountains on the sides of the main arch facing north-west and a lion's head on each of the two keystones on either side of the main arch. It was designed by Giovanni Fontana, who closely based it on the model of ancient Roman triumphal arches, with a large central arch flanked by two smaller ones. It is built of peperino...

SIXTVS · V · PONT · MAX · VIAS VTRASQ· ET AD S· MARIAM MAIOREM ET AD S · MARIAM ANGELORUM AD POPVLI COMMODITATEM ET DEVOTIONEM LONGAS LATASQ SVA IMPENSA STRAVIT

- SIXTVS V PONT MAX DVCTVM AQVAE FELICIS RIVO SVBTERRANEO MILL · PASS · XIII · SVBSTRVCTIONE ARCVATA VII SVO SVMPTV EXTRVXIT

On the south-east side is an inscription reading "ANNO DOMINI MDLXXXV PONTIFICATUS I", which gives the completion date. A similar or identical one was on the north-west side but is now illegible except for the letters "ANN".

SIXTVS · V · PONT · MAX · VIAS VTRASQ· ET AD S· MARIAM MAIOREM ET AD S · MARIAM ANGELORUM AD POPVLI COMMODITATEM ET DEVOTIONEM LONGAS LATASQ SVA IMPENSA STRAVIT

SIXTVS V PONT MAX DVCTVM AQVAE FELICIS RIVO SVBTERRANEO MILL · PASS · XIII · SVBSTRVCTIONE ARCVATA VII SVO SVMPTV EXTRVXIT

On the south-east side is an inscription reading "ANNO DOMINI MDLXXXV PONTIFICATUS I", which gives the completion date. A similar or identical one was on the north-west side but is now illegible except for the letters "ANN".