In the heart of Rome’s historic center, Fontana del Pianto Rome stands quietly in a small piazza near the Renaissance-era Monte Cenci district.
This elegant fountain, often overlooked by visitors, offers a glimpse into the city’s 16th-century urban legacy and blends functionality with timeless
architecturalbeauty (Touring Club Italiano, 2010; Lavin, 1980). Just steps from our hotel, this fountain is more than a charming
landmark — it anchors the cultural and architectural depth of the surrounding district.
The fountain was commissioned under Pope Gregory XIII in response to a citywide push to improve public water access,
especially in heavily populated quarters. This effort followed the completion of the Acqua Felice aqueduct in 1586 — one of the first aqueducts
constructed in Rome since ancient times (Comune di Roma, 1931).
Construction of Fontana del Pianto Rome began in 1591 and was completed in 1593, designed by the renowned architect Giacomo della Porta.
Known for shaping the public spaces of late-Renaissance Rome, della Porta was responsible for numerous fountains and civic landmarks.
The stonework was carried out by Pietro Gucci, a local stonemason active in multiple projects during that era (Treccani, n.d.; Touring Club Italiano, 2010).
The fountain was originally located in Piazza Giudia, where it served as a functional water source for the surrounding community (Turismo Roma, n.d.).
In 1930, during a wave of urban restructuring, the fountain was dismantled and relocated to Piazza delle Cinque Scole (Comune di Roma, 1931).
The new site, named after five historic synagogues that once stood nearby, placed the fountain into a quieter yet culturally rich setting.
The relocation preserved the original architecture, but positioned Fontana del Pianto Rome within walking distance of historic landmarks such as
Palazzo Cenci, the vaulted Arco dei Cenci, and the baroque church Santa Maria del Pianto, from which the fountain takes its
modern name (ICCROM, n.d.; Turismo Roma, n.d.).
This fountain reflects the refined but restrained style typical of della Porta’s public works. Its components include:
Two intersecting oval basins
A central pedestal topped with a smaller round basin
Four carved Gorgon heads, used as water spouts
A simple platform of two concentric stone steps (Touring Club Italiano, 2010)
The Gorgon imagery, drawn from classical mythology, was commonly used in
Renaissance Rome to symbolize vitality and protection — both spiritual and urban (Lavin, 1980).
While it may not attract the crowds of Rome’s more famous fountains, Fontana del Pianto Rome offers something more
intimate — a quiet, historically rich destination where the past lives through stone and water.
Guests at Hotel Monte Cenci are only a few steps away from this hidden gem. Whether you’re passionate about Renaissance
architecture or simply exploring the area on foot, this fountain offers a moment of reflection amid the layered stories of the Eternal City.
Comune di Roma. (1931). Piano di risanamento urbano, zona Regola. Rome: Archivio Storico Capitolino.
ICCROM. (n.d.). Cultural Heritage of the Regola District. Retrieved from https://www.iccrom.org/
Lavin, I. (1980). Bernini and the Unity of the Visual Arts. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Touring Club Italiano. (2010). Roma e dintorni: Guida d’Italia. Milano: Touring Editore.
Treccani. (n.d.). Della Porta, Giacomo. Enciclopedia Italiana. Retrieved from https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/giacomo-della-porta
Turismo Roma. (n.d.). Fontane e quartieri storici di Roma. Retrieved from https://www.turismoroma.it/
