FOUNTAINS OF ROME

Photos 1 and 2 - The Piazza Colonna in the historic heart of Rome has a marble column of Marcus Aurelius ( AD 193).
The late 16th-century fountain contains dolphin and shell motifs. Sculptured by Achille Stocchi.
 

Photos 3 and 4 - The Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna. Keats' House and commemorative plaque are framed by classically carved shell motifs.
 

Photo 5 - Palazzo Barberini. 1644 Triton Fountain by Bernini is central to the square. Four dolphins support the central scallop basins with Triton blowing through a conch. Carved bees symbolise the heraldry of the Barberini family.

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Photo 6 - Just off the Palazzo Barberini is the Fontana delle Api (Fountain of Bees) also by Bernini (1644). The bivalve shell has 3 bees.
 

Photos 7 and 8 -  In the forecourt of The Barberini Palace (now a National Gallery), is a fountain decorated with carved lion heads whose manes are stylised shells. In the secret garden, a classical building houses a grotto with shell decorated niches on either side.
 

Photos 9, 10, and 11  - Piazza Mincio was built in the 1920s by architect Gino Coppede. The Art Deco buildings have a magical quality reached by a Baroque archway. The Fontana delle Rane (The Frog Fountain) (1924) is composed of 12 marble frogs perched on a central basin with pedestal. This is surrounded by four carved zephyrs, each one carrying a carved shell on top of which sits an emblematic frog. At the fountain's base is a large ornamental scallop capturing the cascading water.
 

Photo 12 - Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. This is the oldest fountain in Rome dating back to the 8th century AD. An octagonal basin is decorated with four double shells facing inwards towards the centre.
 

Photos 13 and 14 - Piazza del Popolo. The Fontana della Dea Roma (1823) located in a heavily populated square. A central feature is an 'Egyptian' style obelisk. The wall fountain has a cascade of water spilling into a large scallop basin. Above this if a large statue of Neptune flanked by sea gods on dolphins - one blows through a conch.
 

Photo 15, 16, 17 and 18 - Fontana di Trevi (1735). The largest Baroque fountain in Rome designed by Nicola Salvi it stands 86' high x 161.3' wide. Taming of the waters is the theme of the water sculpture . The central niche contains a cupola with an engraved shell motif. Oceanus stands on a chariot carved to represent a scallop shell. The Tritons and horses provide symmetrical balance. The carved limestone ledges have depictions of marine life - water- lilies, shells and a tree of life.