10 Most Famous Fountains in Italy to See with Your Own Eyes

Italy – the perfect holiday location! With gorgeous sites, interesting establishments, impeccable cuisine, extraordinary culture and rich history.

I love Italy and for me, it is one of the very best places in the world! One day I’ll live there. Not only to improve mi italiano but especially to travel to every corner of this fantastic country.

When planning your next trip to Italy, try thinking of less-known and more unique ways to learn about its history. There are plenty of features like gardens, parks and monuments that tend to hold a lot of fun stories, and you can learn so many curious facts just by visiting them.

If you want to visit some of the most famous fountains in Italy, which can tell you as much as a tour guide, in this post, you’ll find the top 10 most well-known and stunning Italian fountains you should see during your trip.

Where to Find The Most Famous Italian Fountains

1 – Trevi Fountain, Rome

Trevi – the most-visited fountain in the whole of Europe and one of the most famous ones in the world! The renowned Fontana di Trevi is essential to your itinerary, and here is why!

The 18th-century fountain designed by Italian architect Salvi is the best example of Baroque design and significance to the local people. Initially, the project was to be made by Bernini but was abandoned due to the Pope’s death.

Nowadays, locals and tourists pile on to inspect this beauty and, of course, throw a coin! You should throw one using the right hand over the left shoulder. If you do it correctly, it will grant you a wish!

Most popular attractions in Rome:

2 – The Fountain of Neptune, Florence

To see more of the impeccable Italian architecture, take a short trip via the high speed train from Rome to Florence.

Situated in the Piazza della Signoria, the Fountain of Neptune is Florence’s signature mark, adored by tourists!

It was commissioned in the 16th century to celebrate the marriage between the Second Duke of Tuscany and the Grand Duchess Joanna of Austria.

It has survived lots of dramatic changes over the years, many due to vandalism and mistreatment. Still, now, after impressive renovations, it is once again one of the most visited and famous fountains in Italy. See the Renaissance designs and intricate displays of the Zodiac signs!

3 – Fontana del Moro, Rome

Located at the southern end of Piazza Navona, Fontana del Moro is one of the more exciting and unique fountains in the capital city. Giving you an insight into the Moorish and African cultures in the heart of Italy, Fontana del Moro is a must on your list!

Many different artists worked on making the fountain into what it is today, including designing and carving dragons, tritons, and masks. All these mix perfectly with your usual Italian surroundings, giving Fontana del Moro an even more impressive execution.

While this one does not hold the tradition of throwing coins, it is still very significant to the Romans, so you should definitely give it a try!

4 – The Fountain of the Four Rivers, Rome

Piazza Navona is undoubtedly the most thrilling and lively place in Rome, and there are plenty of gorgeous attributes to it! Located in the same square as the Fontana del Moro, this beauty is yet another piece of Italian art.

If you were to ask any Italian about Piazza Navona, all would tell you the same thing – it was not as gorgeous and impressive until the birth of the Fountain of the Four Rivers. Commissioned by Pope Innocent X Pamphilj, the fountain was completed by Bernini!

Learn of the four rivers represented, traditional Italian-Baroque design, and the most careful attention to detail. There is plenty of symbolism to be found in the Fountain of the Four Rivers, so make sure you do some research beforehand or have a tour guide nearby!

5 – The Fountain of Neptune, Bologna

Sharing the name with the one in Florence, the Fountain of Neptune is drastically different from its namesake, so it is essential that you visit them both!

The ideal way for you to get introduced to the Italian High Renaissance architectural style, the fountain is constructed in Mannerist taste and the courtly elite of the mid-sixteenth century. If you hang around for long enough, maybe it will work as a time machine!

In reality, though, the Fountain of Neptune is a gorgeous piece of architecture, famous for its marble exterior and fun symbolism, and is an excellent spot for some sightseeing and taking pictures!

6 – Fountain of the Elephant, Catania

Constructed at the beginning of the 18th century by a famous Sicilian architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini the famous Fountain of the Elephant represents the long-lost connection between Italian art and Egyptian beauty. 

The general symbolism and several facts about the fountain are well-known, but there are many details that still remain a mystery regarding its true origins. If you want to really get into it, maybe ask around and talk to some locals – they will certainly have stories for you!

7 – Bargello Fountain, Gubbio

Dating back to the 14th century, the Bargello Fountain takes its name from the palace it is situated in front of. But that is not the interesting part of earning the fountain its fame! 

Bargello Fountain is wrapped up in many funny and exciting legends, loved by the locals, and eagerly told to tourists. It is often called the Fountain of a Madman and has plenty of stories regarding the nickname! 

One trying to gain the name of the madman can take part in christening with Bargello’s water and then has to run around it three times. Learn more about stories like that while visiting Gubbio!

8 – Babuino Fountain, Rome

One of the most eccentric fountains in Rome, Babuino, represents a mythological creature called Silenus, whose signature trait was a human upper half but the legs of a goat. 

It was built by a wealthy merchant, but the Romans, being as religious as they were, christened the fountain, seeking a cleanse from its sinister ways and deformed appearance.

Babuino Fountain is considered one of the creepier architectural pieces in Italy’s capital!

9 – Fountains of the Palace of Caserta, Caserta

Reggia di Caserta is a formal royal residence in Caserta, southern Italy, constructed by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies as their main residence as kings of Naples.

One of the highlights of the biggest palace in the world is Caserta’s Fountains, five striking and captivating fountains which are among the most famous fountains in Italy.

The intricate architecture and beauty of the Fountains of Diana and Actaeon, Venus and Adonis, the Dolphins, Aeolus, and Ceres, represent many deities, gods, or general symbols of divinity and astrology.

10 – Arethusa Fountain, Sicily

Lastly, head to Sicily for more embodiments of Greek mythology, genius Italian architecture, and legendary stories!

The fountain plays a huge part in many legends, mainly of the nymph Arethusa, the patron figure of Syracuse, Sicily’s central city. Moreover, the freshwater fountain is decorated with papyrus plants, giving it even more of a heavenly appearance!

Grab a camera, and remember to chat with the locals to hear more stories about these legendary fountains!

Nobody tells them better than the Italians; you will have the most fun listening.

Safe travels and have fun in Itlay. Arrivederci!

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