Barcaccia Fountain
The Barcaccia Fountain is a unique and beautiful work of art that embodies the history of Rome and is located on the territory of the Spanish Square. Its construction took place between 1627 and 1629. The composition was created by Italian architect Pietro Bernini and his son. The history of this Barcaccia fountain is extremely interesting and closely intertwined with real events.
The history of the Barkaccia Fountain
In 1598, a flood occurred in Rome, due to the fact that the water level in the Tiber River rose by more than 20 meters. As a result, the entire historical part of medieval Rome was flooded. Many buildings suffered considerable damage as a result of the impact of the water element.
When the water level returned to its previous level, the townspeople noticed a fishing boat sitting on the cobblestones on the Spanish square. Two quarters of a century later, by order of Pope Urban VIII, as part of the restoration of the city's infrastructure (in particular, the Aqua Virgo aqueduct), it was decided to erect a monument in the form of a fountain boat on the square, which would perpetuate the terrible natural disaster that befell Rome at the end of the XVI century.
Description
The main material used to create the Barcaccia fountain was white marble. It looks extremely aesthetically pleasing, thanks to its early Baroque design. The monument is made in the form of a half-sunken longboat similar to the one found in the Roman square after the flood of 1598. Upon a detailed examination of the Barcaccia fountain, on its surface you can see the heraldic symbols of Pope Urban VIII in the form of bees and the sun. One of the features of the moment is its device. The monument is located in such a way that its base is located lower in level than the pedestrian zone, and the monument itself is slightly elevated.
How to get to the Barcaccia Fountain
Plaza de Espana is located in the fourth district of Rome (Champ de Mars). If you get to the Barcaccia fountain by metro, you should get off at the Spagna station (red line). If you want to take a short walk through the Roman streets, you can get off at the previous stop - Piazza Barberini.
