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Description
Designed by the architect Giacomo Calcagni to decorate the four corners of the crossroad between Via Austria (today Via I Settembre) and Via Cardines, the Quattro Fontane were constructed and positioned in four different corners. In 1666 the first one was positioned, made by Innocenzo Mangani; in 1714 the second one was made by Ignazio Buceti; in 1742, on the occasion of the feast of the Madonna della Lettera, the other two were positioned, made by unknown sculptors. The four fountains were very similar to each other, except the one by Buceti, which had the quality of the Savoy royal house.
The earthquake of 1908 seriously damaged them and, during the reconstruction of the city, only two of them were replaced in Via Cardines, while the others were guarded at the Regional Museum. The two marble monuments harmonically blend with the buildings constructed after the earthquake. They have the original angular structure and are adorned with Baroque decorations. On some side brackets, there are two seahorses that in the past were used to pour water into some semicircular ornamental basins. The central part of each fountain is decorated with an enormous mask with chubby cheeks blowing water, two tritons and an enormous oyster between two stylized dolphins. On the top of each fountain, there is an eagle, which with its outspread wings, leans on the Spanish empire insignia. At their sides is the city escutcheon.
The earthquake of 1908 seriously damaged them and, during the reconstruction of the city, only two of them were replaced in Via Cardines, while the others were guarded at the Regional Museum. The two marble monuments harmonically blend with the buildings constructed after the earthquake. They have the original angular structure and are adorned with Baroque decorations. On some side brackets, there are two seahorses that in the past were used to pour water into some semicircular ornamental basins. The central part of each fountain is decorated with an enormous mask with chubby cheeks blowing water, two tritons and an enormous oyster between two stylized dolphins. On the top of each fountain, there is an eagle, which with its outspread wings, leans on the Spanish empire insignia. At their sides is the city escutcheon.