The Fountain of the Tortoises

An incredibly sublime piece of art often overlooked by the tourists visiting Rome, the Fountain of the Tortoises is in the very centre of the city, yet it is not easily found unless you know where to look for it. The creation of the fountain of the Tortoises is due to the Mattei family whose palace is found in the same square, Piazza Mattei, at walking distance from the Pantheon and Venezia square, and wanted to embellish their surroundings to increase their prestige.

It is served by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, and its construction is due to the will of the papal authorities after completing the extension and restoration work of aforementioned water channel. The design was realised by Giacomo della Porta in 1581 and later sculpted by Matteo Landini, that finished his masterpiece in 1588.

The turtles that nowadays represent the fountain, were actually added only at a later stage, probably in 1658 during a restoration phase. Since the water pressure was too low, a series of dolphins spouting water at the top of the composition had to be removed, and the tortoises, believed to be a work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, were put in their place.

The fountain is constituted by a small basin on which stands an amphora, acting as a pedestal to the higher bowl and surrounded by four shells.

Leaning on the shells are four dolphins, supporting an equal number of ephebes whose arms are raised towards the higher basin, creating an effect with their hands that simulate the turtles being pushed in the direction of the water. All the sculptures are made of bronze.