Roma - Fontane

Piazza del Campidoglio
Fontana dei Leoni

Two black Numidian basalt Egyptian lions were placed in 1562 at the bottom of the steps that lead to the Campidoglio square on the bases designed by della Porta. They originally decorated the entrance to the church of Santo Stefano del Cacco. In 1587 when Acqua Felice was brought to the Capitoline hills, and there was a lack of running water after the aqueduct Marcio was interrupted, the two lions were modified and changed into fountains. In 1588, the stone cutter Francesco Scardua following the designs of Camillo Rusconi, carved two shells to collect the water from the channels inserted into the lions’ mouths. On at least two occasions for the election of both Pope Innocence X Pamphili (1644-1655) and Pope clemente X Altieri (1670-1676) the fountains gushed red and white wine.