Piazza della Minerva & Obelisco della Minerva (Minerva Square & Elephant and Obelisk Statue), Rome

During the 1600s, elephants were regarded by the Catholic Church as symbols of strength, intelligence, and sexual morality due to their monogamous nature and brief mating periods occurring once every two years. In 1667, Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the elephant that carries the Obelisk of Santa Maria sopra Minerva for Pope Alexander VII. Obelisks were associated with wisdom, leading Alexander to have an inscription added to the base that reads, "A robust intelligence is required to support solid wisdom."

The red granite obelisk, unearthed in 1665 during excavations near the neighboring church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, is believed to have been brought to Rome in the 1st century AD for the temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, which once stood in this location. Originally erected by Pharaoh Apries of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt around 580 BC in his capital city of Sais, the obelisk stands at a height of 5.47 meters and is the smallest among the 13 ancient obelisks currently found in Rome. It is considered to be part of a pair, with the other obelisk located in Urbino.

In more recent times, Salvador Dali's painting "The Elephants" portrays two elephants with elongated legs facing each other while carrying fragmented obelisks, making visual references to the statue of the elephant in Rome.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rome. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Piazza della Minerva & Obelisco della Minerva (Minerva Square & Elephant and Obelisk Statue)
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Hidden Art Treasures in Rome

Walking Tours in Rome, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Rome

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rome is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Fountains and Squares Walking Tour

In Rome there is a lively piazza round almost every corner, each with its own unique atmosphere and its own story to tell. These public squares have been the center of Roman culture for centuries, and some of the city鈥檚 most popular attractions are located within them.

Most piazzas have a fountain in the center and a lot of cafes around. In fact, Rome holds the largest number of fountains in... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Trastevere Walking Tour

Heading down from the Vatican along the River Tiber, one is bound to find yet another city hidden within the city 鈥� Trastevere. This name translates literally to "across the Tiber". Indeed, crossing the picturesque Ponte Sisto (Sisto Bridge) to the west bank, you will find yourself in a charming neighborhood with a distinct character that sets it apart from any other part of Rome.

... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

Vatican Walking Tour

Consisting of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the Vatican is the world鈥檚 smallest sovereign state, as well as a symbol (and headquarters) of the Roman Catholic faith. Although only 44 hectares in surface, one is amazed by the vastness of this place and the sheer size of everything. When gazing around in all directions, you realize how much can be achieved by people working in faith for... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

Rome Introduction Walking Tour I

Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus who were raised by a she-wolf. However, the pair argued about who had the support of the gods, and Romulus ended up killing Remus in a fight on what became Palatine Hill. Thus, Romulus named the city after himself and declared himself as king.

In a slightly less glorious account, Rome actually began as an Iron Age... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles

EUR Sightseeing Walking Tour

The Esposizione Universale di Roma (EUR), located in the southern suburb of Rome, was originally constructed for an international exhibition that was planned by Mussolini as a grand celebration of Fascist Italy. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, the exhibition never took place. The architecture of EUR was designed to glorify Fascism and showcases a distinct style that sets it apart... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles

"Roman Holiday" Movie Walking Tour

A movie beloved by generations of people, "Roman Holiday" (1953) was filmed entirely in Rome and starred two of Hollywood's greatest icons: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The romantic comedy would go on to earn three Oscars, including the best actress trophy for Hepburn, who is entirely sympathetic in a role that could have been off-putting. The main storyline centers on a day of... view more

Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.0 Km or 5.6 Miles

View all walking tours in Rome, Italy

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

10 Best Food Markets in Rome Italy

Of all the things Italy is most famous for (cars, music, fashion, movies, etc.), food is, undoubtedly, top of the list. Rome may well not be the whole Italy, but no Italy is whole without Rome... And the Romans, much as all their fellow-Italians, like it "fresco", hence the abundance of...

Souvenirs Shopping: 15 Authentic Italian Things To Buy in Rome

Rome is the Eternal City and, as such, the list of gift options available here is countless. Whether it's something edible, drinkable, wearable or pleasing to the eye that you want - you will find it all here in abundance. However, if time or budget is the factor, perhaps you might want to...

17 Best Gelaterias in Rome Italy

For ice cream lovers and dabblers this guide is a treasure chest of Rome鈥檚 best gelato shops. There are gelaterias everywhere. Many visitors to Rome only have a few days to explore the city. You owe it to yourself to make the most of your time and find the gelato locals eat. Often the authentic...