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Fontana del Moro – Piazza Navona Rome Facts
At the southern end is the Fontana del Moro. It was built in 1574 built by Giacomo
Della Porta during the reign of the Pope Gregorio XIII Boncompagni. In the year 1653 it
completely got renovated and the Pope Innocent 10 th, related to the Pamphili family
had the job done by Bernini. The central figure standing in a shell which is mistakenly
called the Moor “il Moro”because of his facial features, is actually a Triton or Neptune
taming a dolphin. Fontana del Moro is one of the most ancient fountains of the Renaissance
period. When restoring the fountain Bernini had added this figure. Before
the Moor statue was added, Bernini had first made a snail which the roman population
and the Pamphili family didn’t like at all and was therefore removed.
Four other Tritons, which is a mythical Greek God – a messenger of the sea, surround
him. The fountain was renovated again in 1874 and the original statues were moved to
the Borghese gallery and replaced with the copies you see today. During the month of September
2011 a vandal attacked this fountain with a hammer. The Italian authorities had everything fixed
shortly after.
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