Fountain of the Naiads

Ask anybody in Rome about the fountain of the Naiads, and you’ll see confused faces! While, nobody knows it by its real name, every Roman that passes through Piazza della Repubblica, the place where it is located, spends some time to admire this beautiful fountain.

Unfortunately, nowadays the square is used as a roundabout in the busy area of Termini Station. Therefore, the fountain is not in a convenient and safe place so as to be inspected from close quarters. Be careful if you plan to cross the road!

This is a later realisation than most of our other suggestions, being assigned in 1888 as a totally new makeover of a previously existing fountain. The project was designed by the architect Alessandro Guerrieri who planned different water basins at various heights, one inside the other.

But it was only in 1901 the project was completed, thanks to the contribution of Mario Rutelli. Reeplacing the four lions that were previously placed, Four statues of the Naiads were added, representing the Nymph of the Lakes, the Underground Waters, the Rivers, and the Oceans, each one with peculiar characteristics related to their theme.

There is also a fifth statue, the Glauco, occupying the centre of the sculptor composition. Due to the suggestive lighting of the statue and of the whole square at night, it’s a good idea to come and visit is after the sunset.