Fontana del Pianto | |
|---|---|
| Fountain | |
 Fontana del Pianto, Piazza delle Cinque Scole | |
| Design | Giacomo della Porta |
| Location | Rome |
 Interactive map of Fontana del Pianto | |
| Coordinates: 41°53′34″N12°28′35″E / 41.892763°N 12.476381°E | |
The Fontana del Pianto, also known as the Fontana di piazza delle Cinque Scole, is a monumental fountain located in the Piazza delle Cinque Scole in the rione of Regola in Rome.
The fountain presently takes its name from the church of Santa Maria del Pianto, whose southern entrance is located a few yards north. The fountain was moved here in 1930 under Pope Pius XI, from its prior location inside the former Roman Ghetto. It was located a few more yards north, near the northern entrance to the church of Santa Maria del Pianto.
The design of the marble fountain was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII and is attributed to Giacomo della Porta, and completed by Pietro Gucci circa 1591–1593. [1] It consists of a superior and lower basins with mascarons as spouts. The prior location, where the Via Santa Maria del Pianto becomes Via del Portico d'Ottavia, is marked in the street with white bricks. The fountain shares features, such as mascarons and simple basins with another of Della Porta's fountains: the Fontana di Piazza d'Aracoeli.
The Fontana del Pianto was part of a broader program of urban renewal and water distribution carried out in Rome during the late 16th century, following the restoration of the Acqua Vergine aqueduct. Fountains designed in this period served both practical and decorative purposes, providing potable water while enhancing public spaces. The fountain’s restrained ornamentation reflects the functional aesthetic typical of Giacomo della Porta’s later works. Its relocation in the early 20th century was connected to extensive urban changes in the former Roman Ghetto area, aimed at improving circulation and redefining public squares. Despite the move, the fountain has retained its historical identity and remains an example of late Renaissance civic architecture integrated into the evolving urban fabric of Rome. [2] [3]
Media related to Fontana del Pianto (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Fontana del Pantheon | Landmarks of Rome Fontana del Pianto | Succeeded by Fontana di Piazza d'Aracoeli |