Fontana delle Anguille

Two bronze eels give Anguillara Sabazia's Fontana delle Anguille its name and distinctive civic imagery. The eighteenth-century fountain stands on the belvedere at the edge of the historic centre, facing Lake Bracciano.

Why it matters

The eel is a heraldic emblem of the Anguillara family and a familiar creature of the lake. In the fountain, these associations bring together lordship, town identity and the fishing culture of the lakeshore.

What to notice

The sinuous bronze figures animate the fountain's composition, with the lake forming its backdrop. A nearby commemorative plaque adds a different association with the water: the Italian swimming championship held here on 14 August 1898, organised by Rari Nantes Sabatia under the patronage of Umberto I. The clock-topped town gate belongs to the surrounding historic setting.

Context and history

The fountain dates to 1776. Its authorship is attributed to the architect Virginio Bracci, while local tradition credits Antonio Jacometti. Set beside a town retaining its medieval street pattern, the fountain represents a later civic embellishment of the lakeside promontory.