Fontana della Piazza dei Quiriti, Travertine fountain with caryatids in Prati district, Rome, Italy
The Fontana della Piazza dei Quiriti is a travertine fountain where four female figures support the upper basin with their heads while seated on stone blocks in the central structure. The water feature sits in the Prati district and measures roughly 10 feet (3 meters) in height, with the caryatids serving as the primary visual and structural element of the design.
The fountain was built in 1928 by sculptor Attilio Selva following a competition launched by Rome's administration to add decorative water features to newly developed neighborhoods. This period marked an expansion of public monuments in the city's modernizing districts during the early 20th century.
The seated female figures carry round cushions on their heads, referencing an old Mediterranean custom of balancing water vessels during daily chores. This design choice connects the fountain to the labor and daily rhythms of women across southern European communities.
The fountain is easily accessible via Rome's public transportation and sits on a busy local plaza in the Prati district near the Church of St. Joachim. Visitors can reach the area on foot from nearby neighborhoods and explore the surrounding streets where shops and cafes create a welcoming environment.
The round cushions resting on the heads of the caryatids are not merely decorative but reference an actual archaeological practice from ancient Rome, where such head-supports were used in water-carrying work. This subtle historical link transforms the fountain from a simple ornament into a subtle connection between modern sculpture and ancient daily life.
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