Fontebranda, Medieval fountain beneath San Domenico Basilica in Siena, Italy
Fontebranda is a medieval fountain below San Domenico Basilica featuring three large Gothic arches and a crenellated roofline. The structure has four lion-shaped water spouts displaying Siena's emblem and contains three separate basins for drinking, animal watering, and washing.
First documented in 1081, the fountain underwent major reconstruction in 1246 under Giovanni di Stefano to serve the wool industry's growing water needs. This renovation established it as a vital supply point for both trade and daily life.
The fountain stands near the birthplace of Saint Catherine, a holy figure deeply tied to Siena's identity. Visitors can sense how this place bridges the sacred and daily life, as people have drawn water here for centuries while the saint's legacy shaped the city's spiritual character.
The fountain sits directly below San Domenico Basilica and is easily accessible on foot. Note that the location sits on a slope with stairs leading down to the structure, so comfortable walking shoes and steady legs are helpful.
The fountain is fed by an ingenious underground canal network that stretches across the countryside and carries water from distant springs through a precise slope of one meter per kilometer. This ancient engineering system has operated without modern pumps or machinery for hundreds of years.
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