Fonte della Fata Morgana, Historical civil building museum in Bagno a Ripoli, Italy.
Fonte della Fata Morgana is a historic structure in Bagno a Ripoli housing a fountain with artistic elements at its heart. The interior features pink brick walls, and a black and white pebble mosaic marks its name on the floor, while a marble sculpture completes the composition.
Bernardo Vecchietti commissioned this fountain in the 1550s within the gardens of Villa Il Riposo, his family's summer retreat. The structure reflected broader Renaissance artistic patronage practices that shaped the region's cultural landscape.
The fountain is named after the legendary sorceress from Arthurian tales, and visitors can see her marble figure standing at the center of the space. This representation connects the location to medieval European folklore that still captures people's imagination today.
The site is located within a historic villa grounds and is best explored on foot, with the immediate surroundings easy to navigate. Visitors should follow the paved path to reach the fountain structure and view the surrounding gardens.
An 18th-century diary account mentions two women in white garments offering water from underground sources at this location. This historical anecdote adds a layer of mystery that goes beyond the structure's physical presence.
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