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The grand fountain of Dea (Fountain of Rome’s Goddess; Fontana della Dea) is on the top of the famous Capitoline Hill, right on Capitoline Square. It enhances the front of Palazzo Senatorio, a monumental backdrop in Piazza del Campidoglio.
History
Initially conceived by Michelangelo, the central niche was intended for a statue of Jupiter, later replaced by a towering figure of Minerva, initially situated in the Palazzo dei Conservatori’s courtyard during the era of Paul III Farnese.
Michelangelo’s design
During the square’s redesign in 1538, Michelangelo incorporated colossal marble statues, initially representing the Nile and the Tigris but transformed into the Tiber with the addition of the she-wolf and twins, sourced from the Baths of Constantine on the Quirinal Hill.
In 1588, to commemorate the Felice Aqueduct’s construction, Matteo Bartolini da Castello designed a fountain with two stacked white Greek marble basins adorned with coats of arms, seamlessly integrating with Michelangelo’s overall square design.
Finally, in 1593, during the time of Clement VIII Aldobrandini, the original standing Minerva statue within the niche was replaced with a smaller porphyry and marble version. This new depiction showed Minerva, later reinterpreted as the Goddess Roma, seated and holding a spear in her left hand and a sphere in her right, positioned on three successive bases.
Read also about Michelangelo’s Pieta in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Interesting Facts
- The Dea Roma Fountain adorns the facade of Palazzo Senatorio, an exquisite feature in the historical palace constructed on the remains of the tabularium from the first century BC. This palace is a central point in the magnificent square crafted by Michelangelo, bordered on the right by Palazzo dei Conservatori and the left by Palazzo Nuovo.
- The only element of the palace by Michelangelo consists of the monumental stairway that leads to the Senatorial Room, built between 1547 and 1554.
- The external facade is decorated with a very high central niche (14 feet high) with pairs of supporting pilasters on its sides. In the original project, the niche was supposed to be occupied by a Jupiter that was then replaced with a giant standing statue of Minerva that had been placed at the time of Paul III Farnese (1534-1549) in the courtyard of Palazzo dei Conservatori.
- Matteo Bartolini, hailing from Città di Castello, was entrusted with constructing a fountain in 1588 following the arrival of Acqua Felice on Capitol Hill. His design incorporated two stacked Greek marble basins against the staircase. In 1593, during the reign of Pope Clement VIII Aldobrandini (1592-1605), a seated porphyry statue from the Domitian era depicting Minerva, later reinterpreted as the Goddess Roma, was installed in the niche.
- The small statue rests on a triple base and is flanked by a pair of barbarians, probably made of stucco, placed in the courtyard of Palazzo dei Conservatori in 1720.
How to Visit The Fountain of Dea
- Address: Piazza del Campidoglio
- Metro: The closest metro station to Piazza del Campidoglio is the Colosseo station on Line B (Blue Line). You can walk to the square or take a bus from there.
- Bus: Various bus lines serve the area around the Capitoline Hill. You can check the public transportation map or use a navigation app to find the most convenient bus route.
- The Capitoline Square is located on top of the Capitoline Hill. Once you reach the square, you’ll find the Capitoline Museums and the iconic equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Things to Know about The Fountain of Dea
Where is the Fountain of Dea located?
What was the initial design of the Fountain of Dea?
What are the statues near the fountain of Dea on the Capitoline hill?
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