One of my favorite things about Rome is the fountains. Every square is adorned with the lavish sculptures, and they oftentimes have as much history as the surrounding buildings. If you feel like you see a fountain at every turn, you do. Altogether, there are 280 fountains in Rome.
The original Fontana del Pantheon was completed by G. Della Porta in the 16th century. In the 18th century, the obelisk (originally from nearby Temple of Isis) was added. If it looks slightly derivative, that’s because the architect, Filippo Barigioni, found inspiration in Bernini’s Fountain of the Rivers. He placed the four dauphins in the corners and the obelisk on a cliff.
The four groups of mask and dauphins were originally built for Fontana del Nettuno in Piazza Navona. In the 19th century, the original masks were replaced with copies. To see the originals, visit Museo di Roma.
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