Fontana della Barcaccia, Baroque fountain at Piazza di Spagna, Italy.
The Fontana della Barcaccia represents a half-sunken boat crafted from travertine stone, featuring water flowing from seven distinct points into a small basin.
Pietro Bernini constructed this fountain between 1627 and 1629 under Pope Urban VIII's commission as part of a program to install fountains across Rome.
The fountain's gentle water sounds inspired English poet John Keats during his final days, leading him to choose the epitaph 'Here lies one whose name was writ in water'.
The fountain connects to the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct, providing fresh drinking water through spouts located at both the bow and stern sections.
The design addresses the low water pressure issue by positioning the fountain below street level, allowing water to flow naturally into its collecting basin.
Location: Rome
Inception: 1629
Architects: Pietro Bernini
Creator: Pietro Bernini
Made from material: travertine
Website: http://romaspqr.it/Inglese/Fontana-della-barcaccia.htm
GPS coordinates: 41.90581,12.48221
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:32
Italian historic fountains demonstrate five centuries of craftsmanship in sculpture, hydraulic engineering, and urban design. From the 15th to the 19th century, Italian artisans shaped marble, bronze, and stone to create works combining practicality and artistic expression. These fountains tell stories from classical mythology, such as Neptune and marine deities, or from the Bible, like Moses drawing water from the rock. They also celebrate the political power of great families and the identity of Italian cities. In Rome, the Trevi Fountain extends 86 feet (26 meters) high with baroque sculptures, while Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers symbolizes continents on Piazza Navona. In Florence, Neptune sits above the Piazza della Signoria, recalling the Medici family's maritime ambitions. The gardens of Villa d'Este in Tivoli feature 51 fountains spread across multiple terraces, showcasing Renaissance hydraulic mastery. These works reveal how water has shaped Italy’s architecture and urban life, from papal Rome to squares in Palermo and Siena.
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