Sturinalto Fountain, 13th-century fountain in Piazza del Comune, Fabriano, Italy.
The Sturinalto Fountain sits in Piazza del Comune and displays three concentric basins with the topmost made of bronze, supported by a cylindrical bronze column at its center. The limestone basins feature polygonal sides formed by mirrors separated by columns, creating geometric patterns visible in the stone structure.
This fountain was built in 1285 by sculptor Jacopo di Grondolo, drawing inspiration from an earlier fountain designed by Nicola Pisano in Perugia. The work represented an important phase in the city's development and demonstrated the influence of Tuscan artistic traditions on this region.
The name Sturinalto comes from Italian words meaning a high water jet, referring to the spray created by this fountain's hydraulic design. The structure served as a symbol of the city's development and importance to local residents over centuries.
The fountain sits in the triangular main square of Fabriano next to the Palazzo del Podesta and the Municipal Palace from the 18th century. Its central location makes it easy to reach on foot, and visitors can explore the surrounding area without difficulty.
This work shows a rare blend of hydraulic engineering and decorative geometry, suggesting that medieval craftspeople possessed advanced technical knowledge. The mirror effects created by the stone surfaces were likely designed to reflect water and light in ways that fascinated observers of that era.
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