Almost all the squares in Rome and the Vatican City are adorned with a beautiful fountain in their center. Like many other elements of Rome, these fountains are pure works of art and several are tourist attractions in their own right that you won’t want to miss on your trip to Italy.
Plan your vacation in Rome, Italy by keeping in mind the following list of the most famous and charming fountains in Rome to ensure you get a chance to see some of the city’s most famous public attractions, including the world-famous Trevi Fountain ( don’t forget make a wish!) and the fountains in St. Peter’s Square.
Trevi’s Fountain
The most famous fountain in all of Italy is the Trevi Fountain, an exaggerated Baroque masterpiece that was completed only in 1762. At all hours of the day, the Trevi Fountain is packed with tourists who visit it to throw coins into its pool. in the hope that this practice will guarantee a return trip to Rome.
Besides the cost of a coin or two, it costs nothing to see the Trevi Fountain, making it one of Rome’s top free attractions, and it has been featured as the backdrop for several of the best films set in Rome.
After a thorough cleaning in late 2015, it’s now open and back to ravishing white beauty, so be sure to check out the Trevi Fountain in all its glory on your trip to Rome this season.
Bernini fountains
One of Rome’s most prolific artists was Gianlorenzo Bernini , who was artistically active from 1622 to 1680. In addition to bringing to life the wonderful marble creations that can be seen in the Borghese Gallery, Bernini sculpted several fountains in the city, most Famous of which is the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona.
Other Bernini fountains appear throughout the city, including the Fontana del Tritone in Piazza Barberini and the Fontana della Barcaccia, just below the Spanish Steps. Learn more about where to see Bernini’s art in Rome in our guide to the artist’s work in Italy.
Fountain of the Naiads
Dating from the 19th to the early 20th centuries, the Fontana delle Naiadi, or Fountain of the Nymphs, is perhaps the most sensual fountain in Rome.
This large fountain, which decorates the Piazza della Repubblica, has a central pool in which Glaucus, the God of Water, stands surrounded by four naiads (nymphs) representing the four types of water: rivers, oceans, lakes and waters. underground aquifers
Fountain of the Turtles
It is worth looking for a tiny fountain in a secluded square, the ‘Fountain of the Turtle’, Fontana delle Tartarughe . Designed by Giacomo della Porta, who also designed the fountains at each end of Piazza Navona, this playful fountain features four male figures leaning on dolphins and helping little turtles in the small pool above them.
Located on Piazza Mattei, in the Jewish ghetto quarter, not far from Campo de ‘Fiori, the fountain is a nice detour and the neighborhood is also a good place for a stroll.
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Fountains of St. Peter’s Square
Although you are not technically in Rome (Vatican City is a small, independent country), you often visit St. Peter’s Square on a trip to Rome.
There are two fountains in the square, one erected in the early 17th century and the second added by Bernini when he created the square in the mid-17th century. Although the fountains are not the main interest in the square, they are definitely worth a look!
This article has been updated and edited by Martha Bakerjian.
