Fontana dell'Acqua Paola - Rome, Italy
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N 41° 53.330 E 012° 27.850
33T E 289615 N 4640543
The Fontana dell'Acqua Paola also known as Il Fontanone ("The big fountain") - monumental fountain located on the Janiculum Hill, near the church of San Pietro in Montorio, in Rome, Italy
Waymark Code: WMD074
Location: Lazio, Italy
Date Posted: 11/01/2011
Views: 11
Fontana dell'Acqua Paola - "Er Fontanone"
With its breathtaking view, the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola is one of the most romantic and picturesque places in Rome. Known by Romans as “er Fontanone” (the “Big Fountain”), it is a baroque jewel that graces the Janiculum landscape with its marble splendour.
Commissioned by Paul V Borghese in 1600 as a monumental display of the aqueduct, the fountain marks the end of the aqueduct and celebrates its creator, the Pope, in name: Acqua “Paola”. Immediately upon being elected, Paul V committed to numerous public works projects. Among them was the repair of the ancient Trajan Aqueduct so that it could bring water to Trastevere again. Three architects worked on the project. However, the monumental work was created by Flaminio Ponzio and Giovanni Fontana who, after working three years on the colossal undertaking, succeeded in bring water to Janiculum.
As was the practice at the time, all the construction materials were scavenged from ancient monuments. Stone and marble were taken from the Forum of Nerva, and the granite columns from the ancient St. Peter's Basilica built by Emperor Constantine.
The fountain resembles the Triumphal Arches of ancient Rome. It has five arches separated by massive marble columns and three central niches with waterfalls. Originally there were five water basins, one for each arch; however, in 1690 Carlo Fontana created the large semicircular basin that mirrored the shape of the wide viewing terrace.
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