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The Fontanaccia of Caprarola: the Renaissance Fountain with Grotesque Masks
The Fontanaccia — also called Fontana delle Boccacce — is one of the historic fountains of Caprarola, built in the 16th century along the road that climbs up to Palazzo Farnese. The name comes from the stone masks carved on the basin: deformed faces, gaping mouths spouting out water. There are six in all, arranged on two levels, depicting grotesque figures typical of the Mannerist taste of the period.
The Water of the Farnese
The fountain was part of the water system commissioned by the Farnese family to supply the palace and the village. The water still arrives today from the spring of Monte Venere through 16th-century terracotta conduits, some of which were discovered during restoration work carried out in the 1980s. The lower basin served as a drinking trough for animals, while the upper one was reserved for domestic use.
Location
The Fontanaccia is on Via Filippo Nicolai, in the section going from Piazza Roma to the palace. It is one of the stops on the historic fountains of Caprarola route, which also includes Fontana del Farnese and Fontana della Crocetta. The water still flows, and is drinkable.
