Untold Stories of Rome’s Fountains: From the Famous to the Forgotten

There are certain fountains in Rome that tend to steal all the glory. And while the Trevi Fountain should absolutely be on your sightseeing wishlist on a trip to the Eternal City, stroll a little longer and you’ll soon see that this is a city absolutely crammed with fountains – all of them intricately designed architectural marvels that contribute to Rome’s rich history and beauty. They are functional, too – these artworks were a major water supply and source of entertainment, with water tumbling over expertly carved marble and bronze. So whether you’re keen to see the most famous fountains in Rome, or more interested in seeking out the under-appreciated and lesser-known ones, here's our guide to which of the city’s 50 or so fountains to seek out first.

Let’s start with the most renowned fountain in Rome, the Trevi Fountain, a vast Baroque masterpiece that was designed in 1732 by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini. Not only is it a beautiful site, but a functional one too – the fountain marks the endpoint of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, a Roman engineering system that supplied water to the city. You may have spotted the fountain in the famous Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday – amongst others.

So, what do you see today? In front of you is the god of water, known as Oceanus, in a chariot and surrounded by tritons, with a towering white building, the Palazzo Poli, behind. While it’s spectacular in the day, be sure to see the Trevi Fountain at night, when the structure is illuminated with lights, making it both magical and romantic. Legend has it that if you toss a coin in the fountain then you’re sure to return to Rome (a legend that has helped millions of euros be donated to charity when the coins are collected). Be warned that the fountain is occasionally closed for maintenance, but there are plenty more fountains in Rome to occupy your time.

• Getting there: Take Metro line A from Termini and get off at Barberini station. It’s a 10-minute walk from there.

You’re likely to visit Piazza Navona on any visit to Rome, and while you’re there, be sure to leave some time to appreciate the Fountain of Four Rivers (or the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, if you’re asking for directions in Italian). It’s the work of Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who was commissioned by the Pope and designed the fountains in the mid 17th-century to represent the four major rivers of the continents that were known at the time – the Nile (Africa), the Ganges (Asia), the Danube (Europe) and the Rio de la Plata (Americas). Each is depicted by a river god sculpted out of marble with tumbling water surrounding them, while an Egyptian obelisk in the centre stretches towards the sky. Piazza Navona is known as the Square of the Fountains and there are two more to see while you’re here, including the Fountain of Neptune, which shows Neptune fighting a sea monster.

• Getting there: Take bus 64 from Termini station and get off at Corso Vittorio Emanuele/Navona.

Not to be confused with the Fountain of Four Rivers, the Four Fountains (or Quattro Fontane) are easy to stroll past without appreciating their beauty and significance. You’ll find the four late Renaissance fountains – which were designed in the mid 1500s – where Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale meet. Each fountain occupies a corner and depicts a river god or goddess, and although small, the work of the sculptures and designer – Domenico Fontana – is no less impressive. While you’re there, look down the intersection of the roads and you’ll spot three of Rome's obelisks in the distance. Keen to stay nearby? There are several centrally located Mercure hotels, including Mercure Rome Colosseum Centre, all a short stroll from the Four Fountains and other famous fountains and sites. 

• Getting there: Take metro line A to Barberini, it’s a 10-minute stroll from there.

If you’re on the hunt for more Bernini-designed fountains in Rome then we recommend the Triton Fountain, or Fontana del Tritone. Located in Piazza Barberini, a loud and lively square that’s lined with shops, cafés and roads, the fountain was completed in 1643 and shows the god Triton, a merman, surrounded by a pod of four dolphins and blowing a conch shell which spurts water high up into the air. It’s yet another example of the city’s ability to blend function with beauty and art, as the fountain’s original goal was to provide the city’s residents with water from the Aqua Felice aqueduct. This is a great fountain to tie in with a visit to the National Gallery of Ancient Art, or Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, with pieces dating back to the pre-1800s.

• Getting there: Take the metro line A and get off at Barberini station – the fountain is in the station’s piazza, close to the exit.

Turtle Fountain is a hidden gem when it comes to fountains in Rome. Unlike many others, it doesn’t occupy a large dazzling square, and the fountain itself is small, too. But it doesn’t compromise on beauty, with bronze figures of young men, dolphins and turtles (the turtles were in fact added later by Bernini when the fountain was restored in the 1650s). The original designer was Giacomo della Porta, who worked on the fountain around the 1580s and commissioned the sculptor Taddeo Landini, who got to work on one of his very first pieces. Unlike many of the fountains in Rome, the fountain was built for a private patron, Muzio Mattei, not for a Pope. It’s located in Piazza Mattei, which is right in the heart of the Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest parts of the city. We love popping into Grezzo Raw Chocolate pastry shop, which is located in the same square. 

• Getting there: Take bus 170 from Termini and get off at Via Arenula/Cairoli. It’s a five-minute walk from there.

It may feel a little small and modest compared to some of the fountains you’ll stumble across in Rome, but this is another Gian Lorenzo Bernini creation that’s well worth seeking out. The shell-shaped fountain is decorated with sculpted bees, a symbol of the Barberini clan. While its initial function was undoubtedly practical – it collected water from the nearby Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini – it also doubled as a pretty water trough for horses. It’s located at the end of Via Vittorio Veneto, which is regarded as one of the most elegant and expensive streets in the city, where much of the 1960 film La Dolce Vita was filmed.

• Getting there: Take metro line A to Barberini, it’s just a minute from there.

These are just a handful of the historic fountains you’ll find on the streets of Rome. But like the city's many hidden gems, part of the joy is stumbling across them yourself. To stay in the thick of the action, check out our selection of Mercure hotels, which combine stylish interiors with affordable prices.