Fontana della Galera, Baroque fountain in Vatican Gardens, Vatican City.
The Fontana della Galera features a lead sculpture of a warship in the center, with water-spouting cannons arranged around its perimeter.
Pope Paul V commissioned the fountain during the 1590s to celebrate the restoration of the Trajan aqueduct that brought water to Vatican City.
The fountain represents the transformation of military power into artistic expression through its design of water-shooting cannons rather than ammunition.
Visitors can explore the Fontana della Galera exclusively through guided tours of the Vatican Gardens, which require advance reservations.
The fountain incorporates a complete model of an early modern warship, making it stand out among the hundred fountains in Vatican Gardens.
Location: Vatican City
GPS coordinates: 41.90633,12.45516
Latest update: March 3, 2025 20:27
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