Ponte Sisto Fountain, Rome

On the Piazza Trilussa in Rome, near the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Trastevere, near the Ponte Sisto, there is a fountain, which is called Ponte Sisto. The historical significance of the fountain is great. It does not look like the traditional Roman fountains: a high structure in the form of an arch with marble columns, which are installed on large blocks of travertine, decorated with winged dragons. Water flows down from the reservoir in the upper part of the fountain, decorated with lion heads, into the lower pool.

History of Ponte Sisto

Ponte Sisto, or the Fountain of One Hundred Priests, as it is still called, was built in 1613 at the order of Paul V, who wanted to prolong the existence of the ancient Aqua Traiana. At that time, the issue of water supply to the right bank of the Tiber River and the Vatican was very relevant.

Architects Giovanni Vasanzio and Giovanni Fontana worked on the project of the fountain. Until the late 19th century, Ponte Sisto was located on the opposite side of the river. Because of the construction of the embankment, it had to be dismantled. The fountain was installed in its present place in 1898.

How to get there

It is located in the Trastevere district. You can get there on the tram № 8 to the Belli stop, on one of the buses № 23, 280, N11 to the Sanzio or Farnesina stops, № 8, 780 to the Sonnino stop. Near the fountain there is the Tiber island.