The fountain of Vanvitelli

The fountain of Vanvitelli is located within the port in Civitavecchia.

WANTED BY TRAIANO, and inserted in the central part of the wall of Urban VIII and overlooks the basin portuale.Fu promoted in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV, who wanted to replace an old tub placed in the same area as today.

It was built in 1743 by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli completely in travertine and is the head of an old faun, inserted in a newspaper stand with curved gables …

When, in 1630, the franchise was restored to the harbor, it was necessary to separate the port from the same city. Urban VIII had then build the wall, which still exists today and that was also to complete the defense system of the city, just lacking towards the sea. Pope Paul V had examined the problem, which presented serious about the possibility of sudden landing of enemy troops in an area too far from the fortress to be able to cope with the fire of his batteries.

Against this danger, nay, even after the construction of the wall, were studied devices of various kinds, and particularly to make the safe harbor from night attacks, was prepared at the two mouthpieces, a system of weirs, nets, wooden beams and chains, anchored to the end of the piers forts.

The wall was to hold the remains of those ancient buildings surrounding the port of Trajan.

Inside the building forms the base of the wall (now used for fish) can still see the original stonework to “opus reticulatum”.