Fontana delle Anfore, Decorative drinking fountain in Testaccio district, Rome, Italy.
The Fontana delle Anfore is a decorative fountain featuring four rectangular basins arranged in a cross pattern with a central column displaying multiple amphora vessels carved from travertine stone. Multiple spouts located across the basins allow visitors and residents to draw fresh drinking water directly.
Pietro Lombardi won a municipal competition to design this fountain in 1924 and it was inaugurated in Piazza Testaccio in 1927. The structure was relocated in 1935 but returned to its original plaza after extensive restoration work in 2015.
The amphora design references Monte Testaccio, a nearby ancient Roman hill built from discarded pottery fragments of past commerce. This visual connection makes the fountain a reminder of the neighborhood's trading history.
The fountain is freely accessible and provides visitors with fresh drinking water throughout the day, making it particularly useful during warm weather. Its central location on Piazza Testaccio makes it easy to find and reach while exploring the neighborhood.
The fountain spent 80 years away from its original plaza after being moved in 1935, making its return after restoration in 2015 a significant moment for the neighborhood. This relocation history is often unknown to visitors who see it today.
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