Fontana della Navicella, Renaissance fountain at Caelian Hill, Rome, Italy
Fontana della Navicella is a Renaissance fountain on Caelian Hill featuring a marble and travertine sculpture of a Roman galley ship. The boat has a decorative boar head at the prow and a castle motif at the stern, surrounded by marble columns linked together with wrought-iron chains.
Andrea Sansovino created the sculpture in 1519 under commission from Cardinal Giovanni de Medici, adapting it from ancient Roman marble fragments. These pieces had been discovered near the church of Santa Maria in Domnica, blending classical elements with Renaissance design.
The fountain reflects maritime themes through its ship design, suggesting a connection to seafaring traditions of the area. The boat motif appears intentional in celebrating this historical link to water and navigation.
The fountain is located on Caelian Hill near the church of Santa Maria in Domnica, accessible on foot with nearby shade and quiet streets. The setting provides a pleasant spot to pause while exploring the hill's other historic sites and monuments.
The basin beneath the ship features a river pebble mosaic depicting fish and boat figures that many visitors overlook. This hidden detail combines ancient Roman craftsmanship with medieval artistic techniques in an understated way.
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