Fontana Maggiore, Proto-Renaissance water well in Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia, Italy
Fontana Maggiore is a fountain made of two stacked polygonal marble basins standing on Piazza IV Novembre in Perugia. Between the basins are twenty-four niches holding statues carved from white Carrara marble, and the panels are cut from pink Assisi stone.
Nicola Pisano, his son Giovanni and Arnolfo di Cambio built the fountain in 1275 to celebrate the new aqueduct from Monte Pacciano. The water reached the city through gravity and supplied the upper square without the use of pumps.
The lower reliefs show scenes like grain harvest, pig slaughter and wine pressing, all tied to the farming calendar. These carvings run around the basin and offer a direct view of thirteenth-century daily routines.
The fountain stands freely on the square in front of the cathedral, so you can walk around it from all sides. The square is usually busy, especially in the late afternoon when locals and travelers gather near the basin.
The upper bronze cup was divided into three bowls, each filled with water so that the overflow pours into the bowl below. The Latin inscriptions on the lower frame explain the symbolism of the reliefs and link theological texts with worldly references.
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