Five (more!) Roman fountains you can visit for free

(Or: a modest proposal for anyone willing to set an alarm at 5AM to dodge a €2 ticket)

Let us address the situation with the candor it deserves. Since the City of Rome introduced a €2 entrance fee at the Trevi Fountain, a significant portion of the traveling public has reacted as though the Eternal City had declared war on tourism. Social media is now awash with tips on how to visit the fountain “for free”, which of course revolve solely on showing up in the dead of night, when no attendant is manning the ticket booth at Trevi.

It looks a bit extreme, doesn’t it? But who are we to judge? If you are really committed to spending not a single cent on a fountain, Rome has a lot to offer that doesn’t involve waking up in the dead of the night. Following are five alternatives, all free. And remember: while Trevi Fountain famously welcomes coins tossed over the shoulder, none of the fountains below share that tradition.

Fontana dell’Acqua Paola (AKA il Fontanone)

Commissioned by Pope Paul V in the early 17th century, this monumental fountain was the terminus of an aqueduct designed to bring water to Trastevere. Locals call it er Fontanone (“the Big Fountain”) and the name is not hyperbole. It found new popularity thanks to the 2013 Oscar-winning film La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino and for good reason – the views over Rome from the terrace are, frankly, worth more than two euros.

The fountain is always accessible for free from the front. Behind it, however, lies a garden that can be visited by reservation only.

Where is it: On the Janiculum Hill

Fontana delle Tartarughe 

Tucked in the Sant’Angelo district near the Jewish Ghetto, this late-Renaissance gem was designed by Giacomo della Porta and built by sculptor Taddeo Landini between 1581 and 1588. It owes its name (“the Turtle Fountain”) to four small bronze tortoises added during a 1658 restoration. The original turtles were stolen so many times over the centuries that the ones visible today are copies: the surviving originals are kept safe at the Capitoline Museums.

Where is it: on Piazza Mattei (Jewish Quarter)

Fontana della Palla di Cannone 

What makes this fountain memorable is the sphere perched at its centre. According to tradition, it represents a cannonball fired by Queen Christina of Sweden from Castel Sant’Angelo: a somewhat eccentric way of announcing she was running late for an appointment at Villa Medici. Two shots missed; the third allegedly struck the bronze portal of the villa, and the ball was subsequently placed in the fountain as a, er, souvenir. The dent on the door is reportedly still visible. As gestures of punctuality go, it remains unmatched.

Where is it: across the road from the Villa Medici, by the top of the Spanish Steps

Fontana del Mascherone 

Not far from the back façade of Palazzo Farnese, this 17th-century fountain was commissioned and financed by the powerful Farnese family. A wide-eyed Roman mask dominates the composition, water pouring from its mouth into a shell-shaped basin and then into a large granite trough of ancient Roman origin (recycling such as in this case has always been common, see what happened at the Quirinale fountain!). On special occasions, wine reportedly flowed from the fountain rather than water, courtesy of the Farnese family’s hospitality. Not happening anymore now (alas!)

Where is it: almost at the end of Via Giulia, not far from the Ponte Sisto bridge

Le Quattro Fontane

Strictly speaking, this entry is four fountains for the price of zero, which ought to appeal to the budget-conscious traveler. Built between 1588 and 1590 under Pope Sixtus V, the four fountains occupy the corners of the crossroads between what is now Via XX Settembre and Via delle Quattro Fontane, each set into a niche in the corner building.

Borromini’s exquisite San Carlino church is steps away. The fountains are, admittedly, on a busy road — so admire them from the pavement rather than the middle of the intersection. This is free advice, as well as free access.

Where are they: at the intersection of Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale, by the Quirinale Presidential Palace

In conclusion…

Rome has over two thousand fountains, and this blog has every intention of getting through all of them eventually… just browse our archives for proof! Whether the Trevi’s €2 entrance fee makes it onto your ‘worth it’ list is, of course, entirely your call — but now at least you have options that don’t include waking up at dawn.