Rome Water Fountains

Fountain of the Sow

Accordingly, the Fountain of the Sow was one of the simplest of water fountain designs, consisting of a plain nozzle and a tiny basin, decorated with a simple ancient roman relief, featuring a sow. It was also called "Fontanella della Scrofa." In 1874, due to traffic reasons, the fountain had to be moved to the nearby corner with Via dei Portoghesi, but since the street had already been called via della Scrofa (sow street), in order to avoid renaming the place, the relief was left on the wall, where it remains to this day. Despite centuries of corrosion, this little bas-relief sow (approx. 50cm long) was almost certainly a votive offering, a sculpture made to bring prosperity to whoever dedicated it.

There was an inn called "The Sow" on the site of this fountain. The carving must have existed more or less in the same place as it is now, at least since 1445, when there was an inn called "The Sow" on this site. In 1534, Pope Julius III referred to a "street known as Sow" in relation to a matter concerning the local butchers. The State Archives hold a precise and detailed listing of all fountains commissioned by the Popes during the last quarter of the 16th Century and this fountain is not included.

On the 22 February 1595, Clement VIII granted Raffaele Casali, one and a half ounces of Aqua Vergine "for his house in Sow and for the public fountain". It was customary for Papal and city councils to grant small quantities of water to private citizens on condition that, in return, they should erect a fountain, or pave a street near an existing fountain, or dig a drain. It may have been a great concession to Mr Casali, but he was "obliged to make the said public fountain" - and I believe it to be the one in Via della Scrofa.