Fontana dei Leoni, Fountain in Viterbo, Italy
The Fontana dei Leoni is a fountain in Piazza delle Erbe, in the historic center of Viterbo, in central Italy. A two-step basin holds four stone lions at its center, each turning its head and placing one paw on a globe, supporting a column topped with two small cups from which water flows down.
A first fountain on this spot dates to the 12th century and was known as the Fontana Flaiana, named after a noble family with a palace nearby. It was completely rebuilt in 1621 following a design by local artist Filippo Caparozzi, and the basin was adjusted again in 1625 to fit the new structure.
The Piazza delle Erbe, where the fountain stands, once hosted a fruit and vegetable market, and that history gave the square one of its old names. The four stone lions, each with one paw resting on a globe, are a familiar sight for people passing through the center of Viterbo.
The fountain sits in an open square and can be visited at any time without charge. Daytime is the best moment to see the stonework clearly, as the light brings out the details of the lions and the carved decorations on the basin.
In cold winters, ice sometimes forms on the lion heads, making them look as if they are wearing a beard of ice. In 2020, the lions were cleaned with acids that left the stone badly worn, which sparked a public debate about who should be responsible for caring for the monument.
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