The Source of Modern Outdoor Water Fountains
The Source of Modern Outdoor Water Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a well educated man, governed the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of ancient classic Greek documents into Latin. In order to make Rome deserving of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to embellish the beauty of the city. Beginning in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent repair at the bidding of the Pope. The ancient Roman tradition of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. At the behest of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti began the construction of a wall fountain in the place where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The water which eventually provided the Trevi Fountain as well as the acclaimed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.
Bernini's Earliest Masterpieces
Bernini's Earliest Masterpieces The Barcaccia, Bernini's very first fountain, is a magnificent chef d'oeuvre built at the bottom of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna.
To this day, you will see Roman locals and vacation goers occupying this area to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. One of the city’s most stylish gathering spots are the streets surrounding Bernini's fountain, which would undoubtedly have brought a smile to the great Bernini. The master's very first water fountain of his professional life was built at around 1630 at the request of Pope Urbano VIII. A massive boat slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's central theme. Period reports dating back to the 16th century indicate that the fountain was constructed as a monument to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. Absenting himself from Italy only once in his life for a prolonged time period, in 1665 Bernini traveled to France.
Keep Your Fountain Clean
Keep Your Fountain Clean Proper care and regular upkeep are important to the longevity of water fountains. Leaves, twigs, and insects very often find their way into fountains, so it is vital to keep yours free from such things. Also, algae tends to build up anywhere natural light meets water. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be blended into the water to eliminate this problem. Another option is to stir bleach into the water, but this action can harm wild animals and so should really be avoided.No more than three-four months should really go by without an extensive cleaning of a fountain. Before you start cleaning, all the water must be eliminated. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean inside the reservoir. A helpful tip is to use a toothbrush if there are small hard-to-reach spots. Make sure all the soap is properly washed off.
It is highly suggested taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and eliminate any plankton or calcium. Soaking it in vinegar for a while will make it easier to clean. If you want to eliminate build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water versus tap water, as these don’t contain any elements that might stick to the inside of the pump.
And finally, make sure the water level is continuously full in order to keep your fountain running smoothly. If the water level drops below the pump’s intake level, it can damage the pump and cause it to burn out - something you don't want to happen!