The Turtle Fountain

We’ve arrived at one of Rome’s less touristy squares, home to one of the city’s most beautiful fountains: the Fountain of the Turtles. In 1570, when the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct was restored, water was plentiful and fountains popped up everywhere. The original plan was for this fountain to depict 4 young men holding up 4 dolphins. But due to water pressure issues, the water could not reach all the way up to the top. So the dolphins were repurposed. You can now find them on the Fontana della Terrina. The turtles, on the other hand, were added later by Bernini to fill the empty space. But what’s so special about this fountain is the romantic tale behind its construction. Legend has it that Duke Muzio Mattei ordered it to be built overnight to impress his future in-laws who thought him penniless. You see, he built the fountain right under his lover’s window. The plan worked and the father gave his blessing.