Beauty of fountains in Rome
Even when you search through the whole world, you will realize that the fountains in Rome are not just equipped with intricate beauty but are also sated with history that will captivate your interests. It has been the same way since the ancient periods where they have been dubbed as the “eternal city.” Talk about how good the locals are when it comes to preservation and maintenance. It all started when there were eleven aqueducts that supplied how many thousand liters of water to the metropolis each and every day. Since there was abundance, they thought of ways on how to make it useful instead of just wasting what Mother Nature had offered to them.
In the Renaissance period, the construction of the fountains in Rome began when the popes made a decision to revive the attraction of their town. To restore what has long been abandoned, they promoted magnificent works such as building bridges and restoring conduits. More than the objective of having it importantly useful to the society, it was really intended to bring back the charm that they were famous for. That is why at present, it is no longer a grand surprise when such region in Italy is considered as one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
Fountains in Rome were also a symbol of affluence
They were strategically located in the gardens and courtyards of the patricians, the highest class that were the only individuals permitted to take the highest seat in their governments. With such development, it paved the way for pompous decorations in the Baroque era. Coined “nymphaeum” when its settings were akin to grottoes, it recalled the same architectural creations in the temples and shrines dedicated to the cult of Nymphs. An example is Villa Guilia where Palladio was inspired when he fashioned his own that can now be seen at Villa Barabaro in Maser.
There are also a lot of fountains in Rome that are replete of scenographical features. One is in Piazza Navona where it has spectacular dimensions. Another is in Trevi which has been featured in countless walking tours. According to a project by Nicola Salvi, it was completed between 1732 and 1762. Currently, it is recognized as a very popular landmark. Conceived as a huge monument, it is set against a pre- existing edifice that consists of a plush adornment. As for the one in honor of their idol Triton, it was executed in Travertine by Gian Lorenzo Bernini around 1642. It has a representation of the sea monster that is half- man and half- fish which appears to be very natural. It is seated on the valves of a shell that is open. He is identified to be very powerful which is illustrated by blowing through a conch.