Fontana Palazzo dei Priori, Fountain in the Palazzo dei Priori, Viterbo, Italy
The Fontana Palazzo dei Priori is a stone fountain from the 17th century, set in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Priori in Viterbo, central Italy. It stands on three steps, has two main basins with lion-head water spouts, decorative dolphins, and a bronze figure at the top holding a palm branch.
The fountain was built in 1624 at the order of the city council to add to the palace courtyard, with the design attributed to a local painter named Filippo Caparozzi. Storms in the mid-17th century damaged the upper sections, and restoration work continued over the following centuries, including new lions carved by sculptor Carlo Jelmoni in the late 1800s.
The Fontana Palazzo dei Priori stands in the courtyard of the building that once housed city government, making it a natural gathering point for anyone entering the palace. The city coat of arms with a spread eagle is carved into the stone, offering a direct connection to the town's civic identity.
The fountain sits inside the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Priori, which is reachable on foot from anywhere in Viterbo's old town. Entering the courtyard during opening hours gives a closer look at the stonework and the bronze figure at the top.
The fountain's designer, Filippo Caparozzi, was a painter rather than an architect or engineer, which was an uncommon choice for a public water feature at the time. He also designed the balustrade around the courtyard and decorated two side niches, making him responsible for much of the courtyard's overall appearance.
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