Fontanone del Gianicolo in Rome

by Fabrizio Ruggeri

Title

Fontanone del Gianicolo in Rome

Artist

Fabrizio Ruggeri

Medium

Photograph

Description

Rome, Italy. The Fontana dell'Acqua Paola on the Janiculum hill, or Fontana Paola, better known in Rome as the "Fontanone del Gianicolo" or simply the "Fontanone". The fountain by Flaminio Ponzio and Giovanni Fontana (1608 - 1612) celebrates the water of the ancient aqueduct of Trajan which was restored under Pope Paul V Borghese (hence the name "acqua paola"). Originally the fountain had five small basins corresponding to the arches, and was facing directly a precipice. The basin was added by Carlo Fontana in 1690 when pope Alexander VIII Ottoboni ordered the creation of the square (basically a rampart sustained by walls). The balustrade with small columns united by iron bars was added in 1698 by Innocent XII to prevent cart drivers to let horses to go to water. The acqua Paola was the first "running water" to arrive to the Trastevere district but was of very poor quality (not really fit for drinking) and created the Roman saying "valere quanto l'acqua Paola" (to be worth as much as the acqua Paola, meaning "to be worth little or nothing"). The Fontanone is visible from many points of Rome and is a landmark of Rome. The inscription on the front erroneously claims restoration of the "Acqua alsietina" instead of the "Aqua Traiana". The "drake and eagle" are heraldic elements of the Borghese coat of arms.

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March 27th, 2011

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