Final Thoughts on Roman Fountains

One of the major things that I am going to miss about Rome is the public fountains. In a city where everything is extremely expensive, the Roman fountains have provided a convienent method of free hyrdration. There are fountains located all over the city, and no matter where you are, you aren't far from a fresh drink. Before coming to Rome, I was under the impression that the water would be unsanitary, and you would have to buy bottled water. This pre impression couldn't have been any further from the truth. The water that I have been drinking since coming to Rome, has been the purest water i've ever drank in my life. I love that there are no chemicals added to the water that comes from the fountains. The water back home in State College doesn't even taste like water it has so many chemicals in it. Not only am I going to miss the public drinking fountains, I am also going to miss the numerous decorative fountains located all over Rome. Many of them have been in place for hundreds of years. It is impossible to escape history in this city. Visitors, and residence of Rome are reminded every day when they take a drink, that their thirst is quenched by aqueducts built thousands of years ago. This fact fascinates me when I considering the places i've lived in the States weren't even founded 300 years ago, let alone their water systems. I'll think of Rome everytime I drink tap water back home, you can be sure of it.

images courtesy of (www.ancientsculpturegallery.com)

Walk through Piazza Del Popolo, Espagna, and Republica

On monday June 23rd, we went on one of the walks that we created last week. My group decided to do Nicole's walk that took us to three piazzas. We started our walk at Piazza Del Popolo, which is a 15 minute tram ride, and a 20 minute walk from my apartment. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get there so I left my apartment an hour early. I was glad that our first stop on the walk was far from my apartment, however because it gave me the opportunity to explore parts of the city that I hadn't been to before. Instead of walking down Corso, I decided to take back alleys to the piazza. By the time I had gotten to our starting point I had already been walking for 30 minutes. I passed by numerous coffee shops, and churches that I had never seen before. I tried to stay in the shade as much as I could, because even though it was stlll early morning, it was already getting hot. I had already visited the first two piazzas on our walk, but this was the first time that I had been to them in the morning. The Piazza Del Espagna looked very strange to me at 9:45 AM trenched in sun with nobody sitting on the stairs. I got a whole new aspect of this tourist hot spot. After walking down the stairs we continued to the Piazza Del Republica. This was the first time that I had visited this particular spot. I had already heard a great deal about this spot in the city because when President Bush visited Rome, this was where the Italians held their anti Bush rally. I had no interest in seeing that, so when everyone was going to this particular piazza, I opted out. I was really glad I got the chance to see this piazza because one of my themes is fountains, and the fountain in the center of this piazza is very large and beautiful. The fountain is comprised of many shoots of water all spilling towards the center. I wish I could post pictures of this fountain, but unfortunately my camera broke, and I have no way to upload photos anymore. Anyways, it was a beautiful morning and a very pretty walk. It was a great way to start my last week in Rome.

Walking tour; Fountain Descriptions

The first fountain during my walk is a fountain designed by Bernini. The fountain is called Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi. There is a large Egyptian Obelisk located in the center of the fountain. There also two smaller fountains located on either side of the Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi.  The Piazzo Navona is an oval shape, the other two fountains are located at both ends of the oval.  The second fountain on the walk is located at the Pantheon, in the center of Piazza Della  Rotunda. This fountain was originally designed to be placed in Piazza Navona. The marble fountain is a sculpture of four ugly masks spitting water in four opposite directions. When you look at the fountain from far away, the faces do not look as goofy as they actually are. A close look at this fountain is very interesting, and actually quite comical. The third fountain that you will pass on the walk is called the Fontanelle Del Facchino. This is one Rome's historic talking statues. The water comes out of a barrel held by a porter. It was created in the 16th century. This fountain is a great place to grab a cool drink, during the hot summer months. The water always comes out cool and fresh! The last stop on my fountain walk brings you to the Trevi Fountain, which was completed in 1762. This fountain is considered to be Rome's most famous, and it is also one of the largest. The fountain itself is actually bigger than the Piazza is sits in. The two central figures are Neptune, one of them is mastering a sea horse, while the other is taking control of a more peaceful animal. The fountain symbolizes the two moods of the sea. It is well known myth, that if you toss a coin into the fountain over your shoulder, you will return to Rome at some point in your life. (Facts from Eyewitness Travel Guide, and www.garden-fountains.com)

A walk to four major fountains in Central Rome.

This walk will be taking you to four major fountains in Central Rome. You will see Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, The Pantheon Fountain, Fontanella Del Facchino, and the Trevi Fountain. Starting off at the center of Piazza Navona, next to Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, head down Corsia Agonale. With you back to Piazza Navona, make a left on Corso Del Rinascimento, then make an immediate right onto San Giovani d'Arco. Continue on this street until you come to Via Rosetta, make a right onto that street. You have now arrived at the Pantheon Fountain located in the center of Piazza Della Rotonda. Head straight on Piazza Della Minerva, and when you go by the Santa Maria sopra Minerva make a left on Via Del Pie Di Marmo. This street will lead you into a small parking lot in an area called Piazza Del Collegio Romano. Continue straight through the parking lot, and head down the small alley directly in front of you called Via Lata. Near the end of the alley before you reach Via Del Corso, notice the Fontanella Del Facchino on your left. This is a great place to stop for a nice cool drink. Make a left on Via Del Corso and walk until you come to Via Delle Muratte. Make a right onto this street and follow it until  you come to the Trevi Fountain. 

Directions from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain

A trip to Hadrian's Villa

Hadrian's Villa was by far the most amazing ruins that I've seen since i've been in Europe. I thought it was very cool how you could crawl through the ancient remains. In Rome, all of the ruins are so touristy that you can't really explore for yourself. One of the coolest parts of the Villa was the Maritime Theater. This was Emperor Hadrian's very own get away inside of the Villa. It was surrounded by a moat filled with fresh water, and a tall outer wall that gave even more privacy. Hadrians lair was comprised of bedrooms, a library, and numerous bathes. Hadrian loved poetry, art, and philosophy.It is thought that this is where he would go to relax and create art. The only way to get across the moat was by two draw bridges. Towards the end of Hadrian's rein as emperor of Rome, he spent much of his time at the Villa. Saying "It was more peaceful than any place he had visited in Europe or in Rome" Many of the remains are still present, and it is very easy to formulate in your head what use to be located on this site. When you walk through the Forum in central Rome, it is not easy to get an idea of what use to be located there. Hadrian's Villa on the other hand is not like that at all. The area is surrounded by mountains and rolling hills. It was seriously one of the most beautiful places I had ever been in my life. I could have spent hours there just looking at the scenery. I can see why Hadrian chose this particular spot to build his summer retreat. Many of the pools in the villa can still be seen. During the hay day of the site, waterfalls flowed from pool to pool in the 300 acre complex. The water was constantly circulated so that it was clean and fresh. The sound that this water would have made, must have been extremely relaxing. Towards the north end of the site was an area called the Canopus, which is still filled with water today. The far end of the structure use to house a shrine dedicated to the emperor Hadrian. From the top of the building a thin sheer of water use to flow over the ledge creating a sheet of water between the shrine and the outer pool. The sound that this water would have made would have been heard hundreds of feet away from the site. There are replicas of the statues that use to be placed along the pool. This entire area used to be covered by a roof. It is not completely understood how this was accomplished. Architects have recreated two different ways this part of the villa use to be. In the picture below you can see the recreation of columns at the end of the pool. Further down the side, statues could have held up the roof. Either way, it would have been an extraordinary site to see. In the far ground of the picture is where the water would have spilled into the pool. 

There was also a system of underground tunnels and canals that connected each building. In the heat of the day Hadrian and his people could get around the entire estate without ever walking outside. 

There was a heating system that incorporated the sun, and fires located under the pools, which heated the water. There was a system of pipes that would allow hot or cold water to be added into the plumbing depending on the temperature that day. In ancient times, it was a modern day system of heated pools. Architects and scientists from all over the world marvel at this magnificent site. There are still many aspects of the site that we don't completely understand, and are unable to recreate. All of the models of Hadrians Villa are just ideas of what it used to be like. We cannot be sure how each structure was actually used. 

On the opposite side of the site is the Piazza d'Oro, otherwise known as the golden square. This part of the villa housed an enormous garden,  with pools and fountains. The picture above is what remains. It is thought that the structure in the far end of the picture was covered completely by a roof although architects still aren't sure how that would  have been possible. The picture of the tunnel a little bit above, runs completely under the golden square, connecting the buildings on either side. There were canals in the tunnel that would have channeled water to the other side, with many drop offs. The water would have echoed through the tunnels making it sound like a babbling creek. There were numerous windows in the tunnel leading up to the gardens so the splashes from the water would have been heard throughout the square. To put this in perspective, the golden square would have been like a high class spa, with soothing sounds of trickling water. Hundreds of statues were uncovered in this part of the villa, so no doubt it would have been one of the most gorgeous sites in the entire complex. 

(Information from; Eyewitness Travel Guide, www.wikipedia.com)

Drinking Fountain in Tivoli

There weren't many drinking fountains in Tivoli like there were in Rome. There was however, one really cool one that I came across. There was an eagle on the top of it made out of different kinds of stones. There were two spouts that poured into two large bowls near the ground. The fountain looked extremely worn in an area of the town that was very well kept. I later found out from a local that the fountain had been there for many years. It had actually survived World War II. Much of the city had been destroyed in World War II, so it was a miracle that this structure is still intact. After filling up my water bottle with cool fresh water, I headed off to Hadrian's Villa. 

Modern Looking Fountain

Today as I was walking to the train station, I spotted a very cool fountain unlike any of the others I’ve seen in Rome. The fountain spills water into three bowls located on top of a unique drop spout. The water cascades down the curves steel into a shallow bath below. The top three bowls are used by pigeons to bath, which was why the square was flooded with them. The fountain is located before the bridge over the Tiber called Ponto Testaccio. It is located in the far southern portion of Trastevere, an area that I am currently exploring. Every day, I try to run in different parts of the city because I’ve found it is a great way to explore. So far I’ve run to the Circus Maximus, the Vatican at sunset, souther Trastevere, and the Janiculum Hill.

Fountains in Peaceful places

We visited San Clemente which gives tourists an opportunity to travel through three layers of history. "At street level, there is a 12th-century church; underneath this lies a 4th-century church; and below that are ancient Roman buildings." (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide) What I found most interesting about this place, was the courtyard on the right hand side of the building. The cobble stone that made up the floor of the outside area was overgrown, and the roof around the edges was full of weeds. I actually liked this effect because it made it seem like it was lost in time. I prefer to look at old historical buildings when they aren't cleaned up for the public because it gives me a better perspective of how time has worn down the site. In the center of the courtyard there was a pigeon bathing in a fountain. The fountain was so quant, but the way the water trickled down the sides of the round bowl, it made it so soothing. The area around the fountain echoed the sound of the water. I was informed that concerts had previously been held here, and I couldn't think of a more peaceful or beautiful place to see a show. The pigeon was definitely enjoying himself!

The Facchino Drinking Fountain

One of the fountains that I have used almost every day of class to fill my water bottle is the Fontanella del Facchino. The statue is of a chubby man holding onto a wine barrel. The Barrel has a gash in it and that is where the water flows out of. According to the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide,  the statue is one of Rome's talking statues like that of the Pasquino. The fountain was created around 1590 and was moved from the Corso, to where it is located now along the wall of Banco Di Roma. The statue most likely represents a member of the Universita Degli Acquaroli, which was a fraternity of water carriers. It is also thought that the statue could represent Martin Luther, or the porter Abbondio Rizzio, who died carrying a barrel. I cannot count the number of times I've visited this statue to get a drink. It is conveniently located about 20 feet from the door to our classroom, so every break we get my fellow classmates and I all run to fill up. I've nicknamed him the Buddha because of his round figure and wise face. A couple of my friends have actually started calling him that too, so when thirsty, refer to Buddha!

Piazza Belli Fountain

One of the first fountains that I saw coming into Rome, on the way to my apartment in Trastevere, is named the Piazza Belli. It was actually one of the first pictures that I took when touring the city. I had no idea that there was a write up about it in my eyewitness guide until today. "The Piazza Belli is named after Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli who wrote satirical sonnets in Roman dialect rather than academic Italian. At the center of the Piazza stands a statue of the poet (1913)." (Eyewitness Travel) Although I thought the statue of the poet was really cool, the neatest part of the monument that I noticed was the demon looking faces that spit water at the base of the statue. Every day on my way to class I pass by this monument and today after being in Rome for two weeks was the first day I actually stopped and looked at the details of this statue. The one thing that I've noticed about many statues in Rome, is that quite often they have flowers or wreaths placed on them. This statue seems to always have flowers draped over it. As you can see in the picture, today Belli's monument had a wreath on the upper part of the statue. I think its really awesome how romans decorate the statues around their city. After grabbing a drink from the statue, I realized that this is just another example of what the ancient aqueducts supply water too. 

The water fountain in the Forum

Today we walked around the forum, and right when I thought I was going to faint because of a lack of water, my prayers were answered and one of Rome's trusty aqueduct fountains stood before me. As I knelt down and took a sip of the pure cool water, I took a step back and really took notice of my surroundings. Was it possible that the aqueduct that was helping to quench my thirst was used by ancient Romans 2500 years ago? Contemplating that idea brought me back to the realization of how amazing it is that I'm actually fortunate enough to have the experience to view the ruins of the infamous ancient Roman civilization. I ended up filling my water bottle three times, I still can't get over how delicious the water is that flows out of these fountains!

When it Rains it Pours

One thing that I have noticed during my first week in Rome, is that when they call for rain showers all day, it is not a continuous rain. Typically it rains hard for about 20 minutes and then the sun will come out. It is almost as if we are in a tropical climate. I have visited Florida many times and the weather is a lot like it is there. It has been raining off and on over the last couple of days and the fountains that I've seen are all over flowing with water. The Tiber river is also gushing and moving at a very fast pace. Luckily, the weather is suppose to clear up in the next couple days so it will give the water a chance to recede. The humidity is also very high. Every morning when I wake up I always feel sticky and it's a must to shower. In my mind the weather has been perfect. It hasn't gotten much hotter than 75 degrees. At night it is cool, but unfortunately the humidity remains high. I'm dreading the coming month of June when the weather typically spikes up into the high 80's. At least I am getting the majority of my sight seeing done while its cool!

The Pineapple Fountain

Near the Capitol Hill along Piazza Venezia across the street from the Victor Emmanuel Monument, there is a very unique watering trough. Shaped like a pineapple with two spickets so far this is my favorite watering hole. Not only does it look awesome, for some reason the water that comes out of this statue is ice cold. I've drank out of a number of watering holes, and every single one has a different temperature of water. I'm not positive but a lot of them have different tasting water as well, the taste might have something to do with the temperature I can't be completely sure. I find it very interesting how there are so many and they are all very different. It is very remarkable that many of these troughs are fed by the same aqueduct system that was used thousands of years ago. As the days mount that i've lived in this city, I've really taken note of how remarkable it is that the abundance of these watering troughs are fed by water from mountains that are up to 50 miles away.  I definitely think that this particular fountain has the most character out of all the ones i've seen. As you can see by the picture, the pineapple fountain isn't exactly the cleanest of all the fountains i've seen, but I can definitely say that the water was delicious!

Roman Watering Troughs

The ancient Romans built a system of aqueducts that carried water from the nearby mountains to the center city of Rome. The aqueducts supplied fountains, baths, and sewers with fresh running water that kept the city both clean, and functional. I can remember learning about this in junior high but I had no idea that the same system was still used today. I was under the impression that water in this ancient city would be disgusting, possibly even unsafe to drink. Surprisingly throughout the city i've noticed that there are freshwater springs located everywhere. The water is delicious and you never know who or what you are going to see drinking out of this abundance of fresh water that flows constantly. The picture that I posted is a picture of the watering hole located a mere 20 feet outside of my apartment. A was a bit leery at first, but i've grown accustomed in the first week to filling my water bottle every day as I pass it on my way to class. Magnificent, ancient Rome, quenching thirst for 2000 years and counting.