Fontana dello Sprone, Zierbrunnen in Italien von Bernardo Buontalenti
The Fontana dello Sprone is a small fountain at the corner of Borgo San Jacopo and Via dello Sprone in the Oltrarno district. It features a marble shell-shaped basin with a carved grotesque stone face, from whose mouth water flows.
The fountain was built around 1638 to 1639 under Grand Duke Ferdinando II by mechanic Francesco Generini. Its design follows the Mannerist style that was common in Florence at that time.
The name Sprone comes from the street Via dello Sprone in the Oltrarno quarter. The fountain sits quietly at a corner, blending with the narrow lanes and historic stone buildings that define this old neighborhood.
The fountain is accessible at all times and free to visit, with no entrance fees or set hours. You can stop to see it whenever you pass through the Via dello Sprone or walk in this quarter.
The fountain was long attributed to famous artist Bernardo Buontalenti. Recent research revealed it was actually created by mechanic Francesco Generini, changing the understanding of who really built it.
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