Da Ponte fountain, Baroque fountain in Prešeren Square, Koper, Slovenia
Da Ponte Fountain is a Baroque fountain located near Tito Square in Koper, with an octagonal basin and four decorative mascarons at its base. Water once flowed from metal pipes beneath a bridge-like structure, which gave the fountain its distinctive form.
The fountain was built in 1666 under Podestà Lorenzo Da Ponte and served as the endpoint of an aqueduct system bringing water to the city. It supplied Koper with fresh water for several centuries before it was decommissioned in 1898.
Coats of arms from local noble families decorate the fountain and show the connection to Venetian rule in this coastal town. They reflect the trust that local leaders placed in this important structure.
The fountain is easy to reach on foot from the city center near Tito Square. A short staircase on Čevljarska Street provides quick access, followed by a turn into a nearby street to locate it.
The name comes from Lorenzo Da Ponte, the Venetian Podestà who commissioned the fountain, and his family coat of arms featured a bridge symbol. This bridge motif subtly connects the structure to Venetian architecture and highlights the close ties between Koper and Venice.
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