Roma - Fontane

Via della Navicella
Fontana della Navicella

On the Celio hills in front of the church of Santa Maria in Dominica also known as “in navicula”, with its ceiling containing small boats floating on the waters, restored by Cardinal Medici who became pope under the name of Leone X, is the fountain known as the Navicella or small boat, probably from an idea by Sansovino in the early part of the 16th century (1518-1519). According to legend, a votive offering probably inspired the marble boat representing a Roman galley, by the sailors to Isis, the goddess protector of travellers. A jet of water rises from the centre of the bridge of the small boat placed on a base decorated with the coat of arms of Leone X and is collected into an oval travertine basin below.