ITALY, In 1656, Pope Alexander VII commissioned Lorenzo Bernini to create the majestic St. Peter’s square/piazza. The most important aspect of Bernini’s piazza is his attention to symmetry. He constructed his piazza around the central axis of the Egyptian obelisk. The paving stones of the piazza, which are a combination of cobblestones and travertine blocks arranged to radiate from the central “spoke” of the obelisk, also provide elements of symmetry.