Fountains of Rome โ photo with names and description, map
Among all European capitals, Rome has the largest number of fountains. In former times, there were more than 800 man-made springs on the territory of the eternal city, striking in their splendor and luxury. Today, only 280 fountains of them have survived, which are real works of art from the Baroque era.
History of creation
The history of the creation of numerous fountains on the territory of the Italian capital is rooted in the history of Ancient Rome, when 11 aqueducts made it possible to fully provide the Romans with water. Already in those distant times, they began to create large and small fountains, designed to quench thirst and at the same time decorate the squares of the ancient city. In the Renaissance, on a new wave of the revival of Rome, the popes began to restore abandoned aqueducts and equip new fountains that adorned not only Roman squares, but also the noble palaces of noble people.
Most of these architectural structures, from which the water of the Tiber flows and drips, are mythical images, and also personify the inhabitants of the seas and their depths. The fountains of Rome inspire poets and musicians, directors and artists, sculptors and architects with their beauty. Impressed by the murmuring streams of water and falling drops sparkling in the rays of the Mediterranean sun, the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi created the symphonic poem The Fountains of Rome in 1916.
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Fountain of Neptune
Many Roman fountains are dedicated to the god of the seas. In one of them, the sculptor Giovanni Ceccarini depicts Neptune with his formidable weapon โ a trident, which the deity clutches with his right hand. The god of the seas is surrounded by the inhabitants of the waters dolphins and newts. The architectural composition of the fountain is complemented by a small bowl with a huge sea shell, from which water cascades alternately into the pool.
In the sculptural composition of the Neptune Fountain by Antonio della Bitta, the God of the Seas fights with a huge octopus. It is noteworthy that the fountain of Neptune was created after the formation of an independent Italian state. Therefore, the architects, creating the fountain of Neptune, sought to show the huge role of Italy as a maritime power.
Fountain of the Four Rivers
The Fountain of the Four Rivers, located on Piazza Navona, was created by the architect Bernini in the 17th century to decorate the palace of Pope Innocent X Pamphili. This creation symbolizes the major rivers of the four parts of the world known at that time: the Ganges in Asia, the Nile in Africa, the Danube in Europe and the Rio del Plata in America. The great rivers are depicted as giants, among which the sculpture of the Nile was created with a veil on his head, which symbolizes the insufficient knowledge of the sources of this river in those days.
Fountain Triton
Lorenzo Bernini created in 1642 one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome โ the Triton Fountain. The sea monster, which is a half-man and half-fish, sits on the wings of a huge shell, from the edges of which water flows into the pool.
Fountain of Bees
The Fountain of the Bees, made by Lorenzo Bernini, differs from other similar creations in its lightness and simplicity of composition. Three small industrious bees pour water into the shell between the valves of an open sea shell. It is noteworthy that the name of the customer of the fountain can be seen on one of the shell wings. Despite the fact that the fountain was built in 1644, it is clearly seen that the customer was Pope Urban VIII. However, in 2004, this pretty fountain suffered a sad fate. A mentally ill man decapitated one of the bees with a hammer. However, even after such barbarity, the ancient fountain has not lost its charm.
Fountain Boat
Among the creations of Bernini, it is worth noting one of the fountains most beloved by tourists, the Boat. Interestingly, its creator is the father of the author of โFour Riversโ. This masterpiece of architecture was created as a tribute to the memory of the flood of 1598, during which many residents of the city died. The fountain depicts a leaky boat sinking in the waters of the raging Tiber, from the stern and bow of which water flows. I must say that tourists like to relax on the โBoatโ in the evenings. Often there are so many visitors that it is difficult to see the outlines of the beloved architectural structure because of them.
Fountain Naiad
The fountain, symbolizing the elements of water, is the main decoration of Republic Square. This is the Naiad Fountain, commissioned by Pope Pius IX in 1870. After the reconstruction in 1901, the fountain acquired a modern look. Four nymphs in the form of different water elements form the basis of the composition. One of the naiads symbolizes the lake and sits on a swan, the other saddles a river monster and symbolizes the river, the third naiad rushes on a seahorse, symbolizing the ocean, and the fourth curbed the dragon, personifying the waters of the underworld.
Turtle Fountain
The Turtle Fountain is considered one of the most beautiful and quite popular among tourists. Naked youths rest their feet on dolphin heads, and each one tries to reach with one hand the edge of a huge bowl, which is held on the mighty shoulders of young men. From the mouths of dolphins, jets of water flow into huge sea shells, and from there the water flows into the pool.
Trevi Fountain
The largest and most popular is the Trevi Fountain, created on the square of the same name against the backdrop of the facade of the Pallazzo Poli. It must be said that the pallazzo at one time was the property of Princess Volkonskaya. At her invitation, N. V. Gogol was here and read his โInspector Generalโ to the guests. This famous fountain was built on the site of an ancient spring called the Waters of the Virgin.
According to an ancient Roman legend, thirsty Roman soldiers saw a maiden near the spring, who told them where to look for water. Soon in 19 BC. e. the legendary spring was transformed into Rome's hydraulic system. In the Middle Ages, the hydraulic system was abandoned, and it suffered the sad fate of oblivion. During the Renaissance, on the orders of Pope Clement XII, a large fountain was erected on the site of an abandoned hydraulic system, the construction of which lasted about 30 years. The main work on the construction of the Trevi Fountain was carried out under the guidance of the architect Nicola Salvi, who used the sketches of Lorenzo Bernini created a hundred years ago.
The central figure of the architectural structure is the figure of the sea god, near which on both sides are the goddess of Health and the goddess of Abundance. In front of the statues of the gods, a pool was created, representing the sea element. This fountain has often been used as a visiting card of Rome since 1960, when the famous Felini film โDolce Vitaโ was released, in which the main character jumps into the waters of Trevi right in her clothes.
Many guests of the Italian capital, having visited this fountain, try to follow a long tradition and throw a coin into the water in order to return here again. Therefore, about 3 thousand euros are removed from the bottom of the fountain every day.
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