Tabernacolo delle Fonticine, Street shrine and fountain in Historic Centre of Florence, Italy.
The Tabernacolo delle Fonticine is a marble shrine and fountain in Florence's historic center with seven cherub heads that pour water from the basin. The central altarpiece shows the Madonna with Child surrounded by saints, all rendered in polychrome glazed terracotta.
The shrine was created in 1522 by Girolamo and Giovanni della Robbia, members of a renowned ceramics family. Around 1850 it was moved from Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria to its current location on Via Nazionale.
The shrine shows how Florence in the Renaissance combined water fountains and places of prayer into one space. People used it both for drinking and for quiet devotion, mixing daily needs with spiritual practice.
The shrine sits near San Lorenzo Market on Via Nazionale and still functions as a water source for people passing by. It is easily spotted during a walk through the old city and offers a quiet moment between other nearby attractions.
The della Robbia family developed a special glazing method that produced bright, lasting colors, particularly deep blue and yellow tones. This technique became their signature and made their works stand out from other craftspeople working in the city.
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