Campidoglio Fountain In Rome

If you visit the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome then you'll find three fountains of interest in this imposing square. There is a particularly interesting history in each of these fountains. Although each fountain haven't been in place in their current setting for that long, they all have a background that is rich and varied. The sculptures you'll see on these three fountains can be in fact traced back to their roots during the early Christian days in Rome.

The first of the three fountains that you'll probably notice in the piazza is the central fountain that leads up to the magnificent Palace of the Senators. Michelangelo may have originally planned this when he created he laid out designs for the piazza but the fountain was constructed during the reign of Sixtus V who diverted water supply from the Acqua Felice in order to supply a fountain. According to original plans, this fountain was to contain the figure of Jove as its centerpiece but instead, it was built around the figure of Minerva who stands as the figurehead of Rome. The torso of the statue of Minerva has been brought to Rome from Cori so it is of great historical significance but it has been partly restored in modern time.

Sculptures of two river gods decorate a fountain and this fountain can be seen in front of the Minerva fountain. Unlike many lost statues, these statues survived without burial in all the turbulent times since the downfall of Rome and they are of significant historical interest. Initially they were located in front of Aurelian's Temple of the Sun and they have since moved around various settings in Rome before settling in their current location. Like the Palace of the Senators before which they stand, much of this fountain is constructed of travertine and this fountain really does meld into the magnificent building seamlessly.

In the gardens of the Palazzo dei Conservatori is where you will find the third Piazza del Campidoglio fountain. This fountain has barely earned its name as it is actually more of a basin with an unusual sculpture attached. The sculpture, which was added to the square in 1903, shows a lion feasting on a horse that it has hunted down. Although this fountain may not look significant the sculpture itself is of real historical import. The lion appears to show the effects of being exposed to water for long periods and this is what you'll notice if you look closely at it and it was discovered more than a thousand years ago in the River Almo although its history before than is still a mystery.

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