Italy's most stunning fountains - a thread 🧵
1. This fountain in L'Aquila was designed to look like it's pouring lava for a brief time each day when the sun hits it at just the right angle.
1. This fountain in L'Aquila was designed to look like it's pouring lava for a brief time each day when the sun hits it at just the right angle.
2. Trevi Fountain
The Aqua Virgo, built by Agrippa in 19 BC, still supplies water to the fountain more than two millennia later.
Designed by Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762, this Baroque marvel is one of the most iconic fountains in the world.
The Aqua Virgo, built by Agrippa in 19 BC, still supplies water to the fountain more than two millennia later.
Designed by Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762, this Baroque marvel is one of the most iconic fountains in the world.
3. The Praetorian Fountain, Palermo
Originally built in 1544 in Florence by Francesco Camilliani, it was sold, relocated, and reassembled in Sicily in 1574.
Giorgio Vasari described it as "a magnificent fountain without equal in Florence, or perhaps even in all of Italy."
Originally built in 1544 in Florence by Francesco Camilliani, it was sold, relocated, and reassembled in Sicily in 1574.
Giorgio Vasari described it as "a magnificent fountain without equal in Florence, or perhaps even in all of Italy."
4. Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Designed by Bernini for Pope Innocent X, this is one of the most famous fountains in Rome.
It depicts four river gods, each representing a continent: the Nile (Africa), the Danube (Europe), the Ganges (Asia) and the Río de la Plata (South America).
Designed by Bernini for Pope Innocent X, this is one of the most famous fountains in Rome.
It depicts four river gods, each representing a continent: the Nile (Africa), the Danube (Europe), the Ganges (Asia) and the Río de la Plata (South America).
5. Fountain of the Organ, Villa d'Este, Tivoli
This is one of the most extraordinary fountains in this thread, featuring a mind-blowing water organ.
Designed in the 1500s, it uses falling water to create air pressure and produce sound.
This is one of the most extraordinary fountains in this thread, featuring a mind-blowing water organ.
Designed in the 1500s, it uses falling water to create air pressure and produce sound.
6. Fontana della Barcaccia, Rome
Designed by Pietro Bernini in 1629, this masterpiece produced a calming sound that reportedly reached the deathbed of English poet John Keats.
It is believed to have inspired his famous epitaph: "Here lies one whose name was writ in water."
Designed by Pietro Bernini in 1629, this masterpiece produced a calming sound that reportedly reached the deathbed of English poet John Keats.
It is believed to have inspired his famous epitaph: "Here lies one whose name was writ in water."
7. Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, Rome
Also known as Il Fontanone ("The Big Fountain"), it is located on Janiculum Hill.
Built in 1612, it marks the end of the Acqua Paola aqueduct.
Also known as Il Fontanone ("The Big Fountain"), it is located on Janiculum Hill.
Built in 1612, it marks the end of the Acqua Paola aqueduct.
8. Fontana del Moro, Rome
This magnificent fountain located in Piazza Navona depicts a beautiful marine scene with tritons, dolphins, and a conch shell.
Originally designed by Giacomo della Porta in the 1570s, it was later modified by Bernini in the 1650s.
This magnificent fountain located in Piazza Navona depicts a beautiful marine scene with tritons, dolphins, and a conch shell.
Originally designed by Giacomo della Porta in the 1570s, it was later modified by Bernini in the 1650s.
9. The Diana and Actaeon Fountain at the feet of the Grand Cascade, Royal Palace of Caserta
10. Fountain of Neptune, Naples
In the center, on a rock, two nymphs and two satyrs hold up a saucer that features a statue of Neptune with his trident, from which water springs.
It was built by Giovanni D'Auria, using a design by Domenico Fontana, between 1600 and 1601.
In the center, on a rock, two nymphs and two satyrs hold up a saucer that features a statue of Neptune with his trident, from which water springs.
It was built by Giovanni D'Auria, using a design by Domenico Fontana, between 1600 and 1601.
11. Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
The monumental bronze figure of Neptune, an early design by Giambologna, was placed atop this Mannerist wonder around 1566.
At the base, four Nereids hold their breasts, from which jets of water emerge.
The monumental bronze figure of Neptune, an early design by Giambologna, was placed atop this Mannerist wonder around 1566.
At the base, four Nereids hold their breasts, from which jets of water emerge.
12. Il Porcellino, Florence
Meaning "piglet" in Italian, this bronze boar fountain, based on a Hellenistic marble original, was sculpted in 1634.
Visitors drop a coin for luck and rub its snout for a return to Florence, a centuries-old tradition that keeps the snout polished.
Meaning "piglet" in Italian, this bronze boar fountain, based on a Hellenistic marble original, was sculpted in 1634.
Visitors drop a coin for luck and rub its snout for a return to Florence, a centuries-old tradition that keeps the snout polished.
13. Fontana del Gigante, Naples
14. The Fountain of Diana of Ephesus, Villa d'Este
Also known as the Fountain of Mother Nature, this statue was made by the Flemish sculptor Gillis van den Vliete in 1568.
It was modeled after a classical Roman statue of Diana of Ephesus from the second century.
Also known as the Fountain of Mother Nature, this statue was made by the Flemish sculptor Gillis van den Vliete in 1568.
It was modeled after a classical Roman statue of Diana of Ephesus from the second century.
15. Fountain of Neptune, Florence
Commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1559, the fountain is situated in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.
Commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1559, the fountain is situated in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.
16. The Oval Fountain, Villa d'Este
Designed by Pirro Ligorio, the water theater was built between 1565 and 1570 by engineers Tomasso de Como and Curzio Maccarono.
It features water cascading from a stone basin and spraying from Nereid statues.
Designed by Pirro Ligorio, the water theater was built between 1565 and 1570 by engineers Tomasso de Como and Curzio Maccarono.
It features water cascading from a stone basin and spraying from Nereid statues.
17. Triton Fountain
Designed by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, it was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII.
The Triton, Bernini's first free-standing urban fountain, is found in Piazza Barberini and is supplied with water from the restored Acqua Felice aqueduct.
Designed by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, it was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII.
The Triton, Bernini's first free-standing urban fountain, is found in Piazza Barberini and is supplied with water from the restored Acqua Felice aqueduct.
18. Fontana dell'Acqua Felice, Rome
Also known as the Fountain of Moses, it was built between 1585 and 1588.
It is the end point of the Acqua Felice, one of the most important aqueducts in Rome.
Also known as the Fountain of Moses, it was built between 1585 and 1588.
It is the end point of the Acqua Felice, one of the most important aqueducts in Rome.
19. Fountain in Piazza De Ferrari, Genoa
Designed by architect Giuseppe Crosa di Vergagni and built in 1936, it quickly became one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Designed by architect Giuseppe Crosa di Vergagni and built in 1936, it quickly became one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
20. Fontana del Pantheon, Rome
Commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, the monument is located in Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the ancient Roman Pantheon.
Designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575, it was sculpted from marble by Leonardo Sormani.
Commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, the monument is located in Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the ancient Roman Pantheon.
Designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575, it was sculpted from marble by Leonardo Sormani.
The Trevi Fountain flows with timeless beauty
I write about art, architecture, and much more in my FREE newsletter!
Join 7,500+ readers here:
James-lucas.com/welcome
Join 7,500+ readers here:
James-lucas.com/welcome
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
