The
fountain in the Piazza d'Aracoeli, at the base of the Capitoline Hill, overshadowed by the massive
Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II and the long staircases descending respectively and nearly in parallel from the
Campidoglio and the unembellished church of
Santa Maria in Aracoeli. It is one of the first, and simplest, of Renaissance fountains that would embellish the city. Two circular basins, capture the water, the top ringed by children pouring water from jugs, while above them is the heraldic symbol of the papal family. Commissioned by Pope
Sixtus V in 1589, the fountain was designed by
Giacomo della Porta and constructed by
Andrea Brasca,
Pietro Gucci and
Pace Naldini.
During the 1800s the fountain underwent restoration.
References