Fontana del Vecchio

Fontana del Vecchio stands beside Sulmona's medieval aqueduct at the southern edge of the historic centre. Rebuilt in 1474 by city captain Polidoro Tiberti da Cesena, the Renaissance fountain is crowned by Aragonese arms and a bearded head that gives it its name.

Why it matters

The fountain formed part of a wider programme of public works under Tiberti, including repairs to the walls and gates and paving of the streets. Its sculptural design connects Sulmona with the artistic culture of the Aragonese Kingdom of Naples.

What to notice

A mask with plant-like, human features serves as the water spout. Above it, an inscription names Tiberti and the construction date; the lunette contains the crowned Aragonese arms, framed by a garland and two angels. The bearded head sits at the top on a ribbon inscribed “Vechio.” The current ribbed basin replaced an earlier trough in 1901, while the upper Renaissance structure remains intact.

Context and history

A water basin probably stood at the southern gate before Tiberti's 1474 reconstruction. The identity of the bearded figure is uncertain: tradition associates it with Solimo, the legendary founder of Sulmona, while another interpretation sees it as the emblem of the de' Vecchi family. The fountain's name preserves the archaic spelling on the ribbon, and its setting beside the aqueduct links it to Sulmona's historic water system.