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Fontana dell'Aquila Romana (Fountain of the Roman Eagle): The Ancient Spring in the Civita District
At the entrance to the Civita Falconara quarter, the Fountain of the Roman Eagle welcomes those making their way towards the upper part of Arpino. Fed by a natural spring active since Roman times, the fountain, constructed in the 17th century, has continued to supply water to the neighbourhood across the centuries. Its name derives from the eagle carved in bas-relief on the basin, a symbol of the power of Rome that Arpino — birthplace of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Marius — has embodied through the ages.
A Historic Relocation
The fountain originally adorned the courtyard of Palazzo Boncompagni, the residence that dominated what is now Piazza Municipio. Only at a later stage was it relocated to its present position, considerably more scenic and prominent: a node along the ancient routes climbing up towards the citadel, up to the Cyclopean walls — among the best preserved in Lazio — dating back to the 6th–4th centuries BC. From there the view sweeps across the Valle del Liri.
Baroque Architecture and Everyday Use
The structure is simple: a marble basin with Baroque lines, flanked by two defensive towers supporting an eagle with outstretched wings. It is fed by jets of cold water springing from the rock. The people of Arpino still use it today to draw water for their homes — a sign that some traditions are not defeated by mass tourism.
