The Original Fountains of Human History

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The Original Fountains of Human History Water fountains were initially practical in function, used to deliver water from canals or springs to towns and hamlets, providing the inhabitants with clean water to drink, bathe, and prepare food with. In the years before electrical power, the spray of fountains was driven by gravity alone, often using an aqueduct or water supply located far away in the nearby mountains. Fountains throughout history have been designed as memorials, impressing local citizens and tourists alike. If you saw the first fountains, you probably would not identify them as fountains. Designed for drinking water and ceremonial reasons, the very first fountains were very simple carved stone basins. Stone basins are believed to have been first utilized around 2000 BC. The first civilizations that used fountains depended on gravity to push water through spigots. Positioned near aqueducts or springs, the functional public water fountains furnished the local population with fresh drinking water. The Romans began constructing elaborate fountains in 6 B.C., most of which were metallic or stone masks of wildlife and mythological heroes. The extraordinary aqueducts of Rome supplied water to the spectacular public fountains, most of which you can go see today.

Bernini: The Genius Behind Italy's Most Impressive Water Fountains

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Bernini: The Genius Behind Italy's Most Impressive Water Fountains The Barcaccia, a stunning water fountain constructed at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna, was Bernini's earliest water fountain. This spot is still filled with Roman locals and visitors who enjoy exchanging gossip or going over the day's news. One of the city’s most fashionable meeting places are the streets surrounding Bernini's fountain, which would certainly have brought a smile to the great Bernini. Dating back to around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII mandated what was to be the very first fountain of the artist's career. People can now see the fountain as a depiction of a great ship gradually sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. Period reports dating back to the 16th century show that the fountain was built 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 lengthy time period, in 1665 Bernini voyaged to France.

Back Story of Garden Fountains

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Back Story of Garden Fountains Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of scores of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin. Beautifying Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the heart of his objectives. Starting in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent repair at the bidding of the Pope. The ancient Roman custom of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was revived by Nicholas V. The present-day site of the Trevi Fountain was formerly occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The aqueduct he had refurbished included modifications and extensions which eventually allowed it to supply water to the Trevi Fountain as well as the renowned baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona.