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fontana di Trevi

Monumental fountains
Some fountains mark the end of one among the eleven most important aqueducts supplying Ancient Rome with water. In the beginning of modern age, these fountains were replaced by sumptuous models, which were the expression of Popes’ power; classical examples are represented by Fontana di Trevi and Fontana del Mosè. Fontana di Trevi is the terminal point of the ancient aqueduct Acqua Vergine, commissioned by Agrippa; Fontana del Mosè or Fontana dell’Acqua Felice is, instead, the final point of aqueduct Aqua Felix, whose name derives from the name of Pope Sisto V, Felice Peretti. This fountain represents Mosè making pouring water from rocks; the two fountains by Girolamo Rainaldi, located in Piazza Farnese, also have ancient origins. The crossing between Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale is embelled, in its 4 sides, by Four Fountains, commissioned by Sisto V.
Piazza di Spagna shows Pietro Bernini’s Fontana della Barcaccia. In the beginning, Bernini gave the fountain the shape of a boat sinking, to impress the image of a boat that, because of Tiber’s flooding, had been found there. In reality the artist had solved a technical problem occurred: water pressure was too weak to create a higher fountain. On top of Gianicolo we can find the Fontanone, commissioned by Pope Paolo V in the beginning of the 17th century as final expo of the re-established aqueduct of Traiano; the columns come from the ancient Basilica of St. Peter.
Piazza Navona hosts several monumental fountains: the most relevant one is represented by Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, built-up in 1651 by Bernini. It is the base for an obelisk and symbolizes the four continents known at that age through their main rivers: Danube for Europe, Nile for Africa, Ganges for Asia and Rio de la Plata for America. Lyon hosts a similar fountain. As the square was flooded to organize “naval” events such as Roman Carnival and other ones, at the two corners additional fountains were built-up: Fontana del Nettuno, which basin was built-up in 1576 on the basis of Giacomo della Porta’s drawings, and Fontana del Moro. Among the few modern monumental fountains it’s Fontana delle Naiadi, in Piazza della Repubblica, built-up in 1901 by Mario Rutelli.

Ornamental Fountains
Up to the 18th century, unknown dead persons were left in front of Fontana del Tritone, in Piazza Barberini, for their identification; the fountain was built-up by Lorenzo Bernini in 1644, as well as Fontana delle Api, located between Piazza Barberini and via Veneto. Bees were part of Barberinis’ blazon. Tritons enrich also the fountain located in front of Santa Maria in Cosmedin (The Mouth of Truth); a little masterpiece is represented by Fontana delle Tartarughe, located in the middle of piazzetta Mattei, built-up between 1581 and 1584 on the basis of a design from Giacomo della Porta. In 1658 Turtles were added; according to ancient tales they had been created by Bernini. A very curious fountain is represented by Fontana del Babuino (1576): the singular ugliness of the statue, embellishing the squared basin, drew Romans’ attention, who started to call the god represented “il Babuino” and included the sculpture among talking statues such as Marforio, Pasquino, Madama Lucrezia, and the prelate Luigi.