Francesco Borromini

Francesco Borromini (1599–1667) was an Italian architect and a leading figure of the Roman Baroque. Born in Bissone near Lake Lugano, he trained as a stonemason and worked in Milan before moving to Rome, where he collaborated early in his career on major projects including St Peter’s Basilica. Borromini developed a distinctive architectural language marked by complex geometry, inventive spatial planning, and dramatic manipulation of light and surface. His masterpieces include San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane and Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, celebrated for their dynamic forms and daring structural solutions. He died in Rome in 1667.