Fontana dell’Acqua Paola
Perched atop the Janiculum, this monumental fountain marks the terminal display of Pope Paul V’s restored Acqua Paola aqueduct—an engineering feat that channeled water across the Roman countryside and into the city’s modern heart.
At a glance
The Fontanone sits where Via Garibaldi crests the Janiculum hill, just before Porta San Pancrazio. This grand fountain served as the final terminus of the Acqua Paola aqueduct, completing a monumental water system commissioned by Pope Paul V.
History
Pope Paul V restored and reactivated the ancient aqueduct between 1608 and 1610, restoring a water supply line that had served Rome in antiquity. The fountain was completed in 1612, the seventh year of Paul V’s pontificate. The structure incorporates marble and columns salvaged from earlier Roman monuments—four columns of red granite and two of gray came from the ancient Basilica of San Pietro, while much of the facing marble was repurposed from the Forum of Nerva. The fountain later earned cultural fame through Antonello Venditti’s 1972 song “Roma Capoccia,” which references the iconic structure.
What you see
The fountain displays five basins corresponding to its arches in a classical arrangement. Six columns adorn the structure—four of red granite and two lateral columns of gray granite—all resting on unusually high bases with capitals supporting the architrave. The design exemplifies 17th-century Roman fountain architecture, blending ancient materials with modern ambition.
Cultural significance
The Fontanone represents both practical engineering and artistic patronage under Paul V. Its inscription celebrates the pope’s achievement in restoring ancient water infrastructure, though scholars note the text contains a historical inaccuracy—attributing the restored line to the Alsietine aqueduct rather than the Traiano aqueduct that actually supplied the system. The fountain remains a landmark of Roman urban development and papal ambition in the early modern period.
Key facts
- Address: Via Garibaldi, 00153 Rome
- Coordinates: 41.888764463942614, 12.464198470115662
- Restoration period: 1608–1612
- Commissioned by: Pope Paul V
- Phone: 06 0608
- Official website: sovraintendenzaroma.it
Practical information
The fountain is a public monument located on the Janiculum hilltop. Opening hours and admission policies are not detailed in available sources; check the official website or contact the Sovrintendenza Archeologica di Roma for current visitor information.
Getting there
The Fontanone stands at the top of Via Garibaldi on the Janiculum hill, near Porta San Pancrazio. You can reach it on foot via Via Garibaldi from Trastevere or by climbing the hill from surrounding neighborhoods. Public transport connections serve the area; consult local transit maps for the most convenient route from your location.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
Historical events at this place (1)
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