This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
The Fountains in Piazza Farnese: the story of the twin basins that came from the Baths of Caracalla
The two Fountains of Piazza Farnese are located in the heart of the Regola District in Rome, in front of the majestic Palazzo Farnese. Their history is unique: they did not start out life as fountains, they were actually enormous ornamental basins made from Egyptian granite. Brought here from the ancient Baths of Caracalla in the 16th century, they stood dry for decades.
The arrival of water
The first basin arrived in 1545 at the behest of Pope Paul III, followed by its twin some decades later. For nearly a century, however, they remained simple and dry decorations. Everything changed with the restoration of the Acqua Paola aqueduct, which brought the necessary water to the square. And so, in 1626, the architect Girolamo Rainaldi transformed them into true fountains, inserting at the centre the heraldic lily of the Farnese family from which the water now springs.
A detail to tell them apart
At first glance they appear identical, but they are not. One detail sets them apart. The northern fountain — the one facing the Church of Santa Brigida — is slightly smaller, and its lion heads bear the marks of past restorations. The other basin, by contrast, retains an appearance closer to the original Roman craftsmanship.
The fountains are located in Piazza Farnese and are freely accessible at any hour.
