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Fontana Sarcofago di Piazza del Popolo presso Caserma

Typology: Fountains

Address

Address: Piazza del Popolo
Zone: Rione Campo Marzio (P.Spagna-P.Popolo-Pincio) (Roma centro)

Contacts

Description

The two sarcophagus fountains are part of the monumental decoration of the square and complete the final layout designed by Giuseppe Valadier (1762-1839), who also created the Fountain of the Lions in the centre of the square, transformed into a monumental entrance to the city, and the two large fountains of Neptune and the goddess Rome in the two hemicycles.
 
Author: Giuseppe Valadier (design of the square)
Date: 1814 - 1828
Materials: marble, travertine
Original supply: Virgin Aqueduct
The fountains are both located at the northern end of the square, where they replaced a drinking trough and a wash-house, which until the 18th century gave the place a rural character that had become incompatible with the new layout of the area. One of the two is leaning against the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, for which Valadier designed the sacristy and the whole side of the convent, and the other against the opposite "Giacomo Acqua" barracks, formerly belonging to the papal guards, designed by the same architect.
The strigilated sarcophagus leaning against the church, which bears the portrait of two spouses in a clypeus, dates back to the middle of the 3rd century AD, while the other, which can be distinguished because the clypeus depicts only a togaed male figure, can be dated to the last quarter of the same century.
The restoration and arrangement of the square in 1997-1998 also included the two sarcophagus fountains.

Last checked: 2021-04-19 14:23