Fontana delle Tartarughe, Renaissance fountain in Piazza Mattei, Italy.
Fontana delle Tartarughe is a fountain in Piazza Mattei, Rome, crafted from African marble and adorned with bronze figures. Four nude youths stand around the lower basin, resting on dolphins whose mouths spout water into the central bowl, while they lift small turtles toward the upper basin.
Architect Giacomo della Porta completed the fountain in 1588 on commission from the Mattei family. The bronze turtles were added seventy years later during restoration work, likely by Gian Lorenzo Bernini or an artist from his circle.
The name refers to the bronze turtles that four nude youths gently lift toward the upper basin, creating a living connection between human and animal. Residents of the quarter treat the fountain as a natural part of their daily routine, while tourists often linger to study the fine details of the sculptures.
The fountain sits in a quiet side street near the Jewish Quarter and is easy to reach on foot. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when fewer visitors fill the small square and the light brings out the bronze figures.
A legend tells that the Duke of Mattei had the fountain built overnight to impress his future father-in-law, who had initially refused the marriage. The story is unproven, but it explains the proximity of the fountain to Palazzo Mattei and the family's personal pride in the structure.
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