Fontana delle 99 Cannelle

The Fontana delle 99 Cannelle forms a sunken enclosure of patterned pink and white stone in L'Aquila's Borgo Rivera. Carved masks and plain outlets send water into long basins, giving the monument its distinctive rhythm.

Why it matters

The number ninety-nine connects the fountain with the tradition of the castles said to have founded L'Aquila. Its civic symbolism accompanies a practical history as a public water source and wash house near the Aterno.

What to notice

The varied masks combine human faces, grotesques and ornamental motifs. Chequered stone facing unifies the three enclosed sides, while the open side relates the fountain to its surroundings. An inscription records work beginning in 1272 under Tancredi da Pentima, linking the monument with the early development of the city.

Context and history

The fountain developed through several campaigns rather than a single moment of construction. Later additions modified its form and outlets. Following the earthquake of 2009, a restoration supported by FAI repaired the hydraulic system and conserved the stonework; its return in December 2010 became an early milestone in the recovery of L'Aquila's monuments.