Fontana Contarini, Marble fountain in Piazza Vecchia, Bergamo, Italy.
Fontana Contarini is an octagonal marble fountain in Piazza Vecchia featuring a central basin decorated with symmetrical sculptural ornaments. The sculptures include sphinxes and lions carved from Zandobbio marble, creating a balanced composition.
Alvise Contarini, a Venetian magistrate governing Bergamo, gifted this fountain to the city in 1780 upon leaving his administrative post. The creation of the fountain dates to this period of Venetian rule over the region.
The lion sculptures surrounding the fountain reflect Venice's political control over Bergamo at the time. Visitors can see how these symbols made the city's connection to the Venetian Republic visible through its public spaces.
The fountain sits in Piazza Vecchia between two major palaces, making it easy to locate and view from multiple angles. Visitors can access the square on foot and enjoy the work within the historic city center setting.
In 1885 the fountain was dismantled to make room for a Garibaldi monument, but it was reinstalled at the start of the 20th century. This history reveals how public artworks can be moved or removed based on changing priorities and later restored.
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