Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere (Square of Santa Maria in Trastevere), Rome

Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere is a captivating square dominated by the magnificent Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. The square derives its name from this basilica and also features a fountain considered to be the oldest in Rome, as it stands on the same spot where a fountain existed during the time of Emperor Augustus.

Adjacent to the basilica stands the Palazzo San Callisto, a seventeenth-century building owned by the Holy See. At the center of the square, a beautiful fountain graces the surroundings. This fountain is one of the oldest among Rome's monumental fountains and can be traced back to the plan of Pietro del Massaio in 1471. The fountain's current design consists of a polygonal basin with two overlapping basins, although it was originally larger before being reduced to its present form.

The history of this splendid Trastevere fountain is quite eventful and can be explored through the four inscriptions found in the lower basin. Significant restoration efforts were undertaken in 1604 by Pope Clement VIII Aldobrandini (1592-1605) and later by Pope Alexander VII Chigi (1655-1667). In 1659, Alexander VII commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to increase the water flow, which was previously scarce in the neighborhood. Bernini incorporated four double shells facing outward into the basin, adding his artistic touch to the fountain.

In 1692, during the pontificate of Pope Innocent XII Pignatelli (1691-1700), Carlo Fontana replaced Bernini's shells with larger ones facing inward, giving the fountain its present appearance.