In Siena there are some fountains, fed by the bottini, the galleries of a medieval underground aqueduct built from the 12th century. These galleries are 25 km in length, channelling water from seepage from surrounding countryside. The city is built on several hills and is far from the rivers.
The galleries of the bottini are visible with guides on occasion, with the volunteers of the Association La Diana (for a long time the Sienese searched in vain for the Diana, a legendary underground river).
There are several galleries networks, the oldest being the Bottino Maestro de Fontebranda, very deep, bringing water from the source Fontebranda to the Fontebranda Fountain (11th or older), the next was the Bottino Maestro de Fonte Gaia (14th century) which feeds the Fonte Gaia in Piazza del Campo.
Mention should be made of the interesting Water Museum at the Pescaia Fountain.
Many sources have monumental structures, such as those from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as Fontebranda.
Fonte Gaia
In the upper part of Piazza del Campo is the most artistic fountain in Siena, the Fonte Gaia. The work was created by Jacopo della Quercia in 1419, replacing an old public fountain built in 1346. Is name Gaia (Cheerful in English) in reference to the joy of the inhabitants at seeing the water reach the heart of Siena.
The current sculptures are copies made in the 19th century, the damaged originals are now preserved in Museum of Santa Maria della Scala.
On its sides are the bas-reliefs with the Creation of Adam, the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. On the front pillars are reliefs representing Acca Larenzia and Rea Silvia, in tribute to the Roman origins of the city. On the longer side, in the centre, the Virgin and Child surrounded by the allegories of the Virtues.
Fontebranda
The Fontebranda is the oldest and largest of the fountains in Siena, near the Porta di Fontebranda, in the Contrada dell’Oca below the Basilica of Saint Dominic. It was built in the 13th century, covered by three Gothic arcades. It also served as a washing house and a sump for tanners.
It had three separate basins, the first for drinking water, the second as a watering hole for animals, and the third as a washing house. The waters passed from one to another, those coming from the last served the tanners and fed mills.
It is quoted by Dante in the Divine Comedy and by Boccaccio in the Decameron.
Fonte del Casato
The Fonte del Casato fountain is a neat and unadorned fountain, but it stands out in its position surrounded by houses and covered by a street near Piazza del Campo, at the corner of Vicolo della Fonte and at the foot of stairs.
Fonte Pescaia and the Water Museum
The Siena Water Museum occupies three floors (18th and 19th centuries) above the Fonte Pescaia .
The multimedia and audiovisual route allows visitors to learn about the history of Siena, with its important underground system of bottini, embellished with stories, ancient testimonies and objects.
The complete visit, organized by La Diana Association, also offers an interesting excursion inside the bottino of Pescaia source.
Fonte Nuova d’Ovile
Just east of Siena, near the homonymous gate, is the Fonte Nuova d’Ovile just outside of the walls. It is a beautiful building with its gothic arcades.
Fonte delle Monache
Near the San Marco Gate in the south-west of Siena and the green surroundings, with a beautiful panorama, the Fountain of the Nuns (Fonte delle Monache) is a suggestive half hidden fountain, dug into the rock to which leads a tunnel.
She can visit on weekends by reservation with the association Diana.
Contrada’s fountain
The Contrada districts count seventeen fountains, some of them ornamental, created in the 1930s from previous structures. They are the symbol of each Contrada, and are traditionally used as baptismal fonts.
Map with fountains of Siena
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Sources and links
- Tourist portal : visitsienaofficial.it
- Other websites : www.ilpalio.org
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