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Fontana di Piazza S. Maria in Trastevere

Typology: Fountains

Address

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere
Zone: Rione Trastevere (Gianicolo) (Roma centro)

Contacts

Description

This is one of the most ancient of the monumental fountains in Rome, already documented in the plan by Pietro del Massaio (1471) with a structure substantially similar to the one visible today: a polygonal pond at the centre of which rise two basins one on top of the other (later reduced to one). The story of this nice fountain is particularly tormented. It is summarised in the four epigraphs inserted on the lower pond. Important restorations were promoted in 1604 by Clement the Eighth Aldobrandini (1592-1605) and above all by Alexander the Seventh Chigi (1655-1667), who increased the flow of the water that had actually been very scarce until then for the entire quarter, and commissioned its restoration to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who inserted four double shells turned outwards in the pond. In 1692 under pope Innocent the Twelfth Pignatelli (1691-1700), Carlo Fontana replaced the shells with the current ones that are larger and are turned inwards, giving the fountain its current appearance.

See also

Culture and leisure › Cultural heritage › Architectural and historical heritage
Last checked: 2023-08-21 14:46
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