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Piazza San Faustino in Viterbo: the square born from the ashes of a rival city
In the heart of Viterbo, there is a lively square dominated by a distinctive spindle-shaped fountain. Piazza San Faustino is the centre of an entire medieval quarter born under dramatic circumstances. Its story begins in 1172, when refugees from the destroyed city of Ferento found a new beginning here, giving life to an area that still preserves a strong identity to this day.
A proud origin
These newcomers were the most prominent families of Ferento. They did not immediately blend in with the people of Viterbo. Instead, they built their homes and towers outside the city walls of the time, forming an independent settlement. Only in 1210 did the city's new walls embrace this area, officially marking the birth of a quarter that has never forgotten its roots. It is a story marked by pride.
The artists' signature on the fountain
At the centre of the scene stands the 13th-century fountain. Unlike many anonymous works of its kind, this one bears the names of its creators. A careful look reveals the names of Iacopo di Andrea and Gemino di Mastro Francesco, carved among the lion heads. Its spindle shape is a nod to wool spinning, once a crucial activity in the neighbourhood. Today the square hosts a daily market, weaving past and present together.
The square is a public space, always accessible. The spindle fountain and the outside of the Chiesa dei Santi Faustino e Giovita (Church of the Saints Faustinus and Jovita) can be visited freely at any time.
