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| Fontana delle 99 Cannelle | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fontana delle 99 Cannelle |
| Location | L'Aquila |
| Type | Fountain |
Fontana delle 99 Cannelle is a medieval fountain located in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, notable for its long arcade of spouts and connections to local legend and urban development. The fountain has been cited in documentary records involving Charles I of Anjou, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, and municipal sources related to Comune di L'Aquila. It functions as both a hydraulic structure and a cultural landmark interacting with the history of Abruzzo, Kingdom of Naples, and regional identities.
The fountain's origins are debated between attributions to the era of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and later medieval patronage under figures like Charles I of Anjou and municipal authorities of L'Aquila. Early chronicles from municipal archives mention public waterworks alongside urban projects such as the construction of city walls and public squares contemporaneous with the foundation of L'Aquila in the 13th century. Over subsequent centuries the fountain appeared in records connected to families and institutions including the Colonna family, Orsini family, and local confraternities; references also occur in descriptions by travelers like Gabriele d'Annunzio and studies by scholars from National Institute of Ancient Art circles. The fountain survived seismic events recorded in the history of Italy and underwent episodic maintenance during periods under the Spanish Empire and Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
The fountain comprises a long travertine façade punctuated by numerous spouts set within sculpted masks and simple stone nozzles, reflecting influences from Roman and medieval hydraulic traditions seen in works like the Trevi Fountain and provincial Romanesque fountains. Its plan adapts to a slope and integrates cistern and aqueduct elements comparable to remnants of Aqua Virgo and medieval Italian water systems studied by engineers associated with the Accademia dei Lincei. Material choices—travertine, local limestone, and brick—echo masonry techniques present in nearby monuments such as Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio and Castello Cinquecentesco. Decorative motifs include mask heads, vegetal patterns, and inscriptions whose lettering aligns with epigraphic practices found in medieval civic sculpture catalogued by scholars of the Vatican Museums and regional heritage bodies.
Locally the fountain serves as a symbol of communal identity tied to the founding myths of L'Aquila, its neighborhoods, and the reputed "ninety-nine" castle-villages that feature in municipal legend linked to nobility lineages like the Aquilani and agreements with rulers such as Charles I of Anjou. It appears in civic rituals associated with institutions including the Comune di L'Aquila and religious observances at churches like Santa Maria di Collemaggio. Intellectuals, poets, and historians—ranging from commentators of the Renaissance to modern academics at Università degli Studi dell'Aquila—have interpreted the fountain as an emblem of urban resilience, water rights disputes, and local folklore resonant with broader Italian narratives involving figures like Giovanni Boccaccio and Torquato Tasso.
Conservation campaigns have involved municipal administrations, regional heritage agencies, and international experts from institutions such as the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and conservation teams affiliated with the UNESCO advisory network. Interventions addressed structural stabilization, stone consolidation, and hydraulic rehabilitation following damage from seismic events similar to the widely documented 20th and 21st century earthquakes in central Italy. Funding and technical coordination engaged actors including the European Union cultural programs, regional archives, and university departments at Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza". Preservation work balanced archaeological investigation with public access concerns, following charters influenced by principles promulgated by bodies like the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
Located within the historic fabric of L'Aquila, the fountain is accessible from principal urban axes near landmarks such as the Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Borgo Rivera, and municipal squares administered by the Comune di L'Aquila. Visitors typically approach via regional transport connections through Pescara, Rome, and rail links operated by Trenitalia. Access conditions reflect municipal opening policies and conservation measures overseen by regional cultural offices in Abruzzo; seasonal events and guided tours are often coordinated with institutions like the Museo Nazionale d'Abruzzo and local tourist boards.
The fountain has been featured in regional literature, photography, and film projects referencing Abruzzo identity, appearing alongside works discussing the history of L'Aquila and cultural recoveries after seismic crises comparable to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. Public ceremonies, processions, and festivals—coordinated by civic organizations and religious fraternities—frequently use the fountain as a focal point, while contemporary artists and documentary filmmakers connected to institutions such as the Istituto Luce have filmed it during cultural heritage campaigns. It also figures in academic symposia at universities including Università degli Studi dell'Aquila and conferences organized by the Associazione Nazionale Archeologi.
Category:Fountains in Italy Category:L'Aquila