Fontana di Piazza Nicosia, Renaissance fountain in Piazza Nicosia, Rome, Italy.
The Fontana di Piazza Nicosia is a Renaissance fountain in Rome with two stone basins from which water flows into an octagonal lower tank. Carved dragons decorate the upper section and give the structure its distinctive character.
Giacomo della Porta designed this fountain in 1572 under Pope Gregory XIII as part of Rome's major water infrastructure renewal. The project reflected papal efforts to restore ancient aqueducts and create new public water sources across the city.
The fountain displays dragon motifs from Pope Gregory XIII's coat of arms, linking papal power directly to this public space where Romans and visitors gather daily.
The fountain sits in a central location on Piazza Nicosia and is easily accessible on foot. It draws water from the ancient Aqua Virgo system that remains operational today, providing fresh water for residents and visitors.
The fountain originally stood at Piazza del Popolo before being moved to its current location in 1849. This relocation reveals how Rome transformed over centuries and how public monuments shifted positions as the city evolved.
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