Fontana Vecchia, Renaissance fountain at Via Ugo Bassi, Bologna, Italy.
Fontana Vecchia is a Renaissance fountain located on Via Ugo Bassi, built against the wall of Palazzo d'Accursio in the city center. Its marble surface displays family coats of arms, papal emblems, bas-relief sculptures, and textual inscriptions across its facade.
Cardinal Carlo Borromeo commissioned the fountain in 1565, employing Sicilian architect Tommaso Laureti to design and construct it. The work emerged during a period when the Church held direct authority over Bologna.
The word 'Libertas' carved into the fountain embodies Bologna's sense of freedom and independence. This ideal appears across the city in various forms, shaping how people think about their home.
The fountain sits in a pedestrian zone that closes to traffic on Sundays, and water still flows freely into its basin. You can reach it easily from the main street and observe the water feature in use.
Hidden underground channels connect this fountain to the Neptune Fountain and a cistern beneath the Palazzo d'Accursio courtyard. These subterranean water routes reveal how it functioned as part of a broader system supplying water throughout the city.
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