Capital of the region Abruzzo and splendid city of art, L'Aquila preserves several treasures. Among churches and sacred buildings, the one that has been baptized stands out monument symbol of the city's history. It is about fountain of the 99 spouts. What is particular about it is immediately said. The many jets of water that touch the hundred are not just an important number. Behind the 99In fact, meanings intertwined with the legendary narratives of the place are hidden.
The construction
Located near the Aterno river, in one of the oldest parts of the historic center, the fountain would have a medieval origin. A fourteenth-century plaque shows, at the top of the same, in Roman numerals the year MCCLXXII, or the 1272. Evidently as evidence of the first moment in which the works took place under the direction of the architect Tancredi da Pentima. As often happens with the buildings of the past, the construction did not end in a single period but involved, on several occasions, several centuries. But how is the fountain of 99 spouts made up?
Developed along the trapezoidal perimeter of Piazza San Vito, it forms pools at different levels. The structure of the water collection is explained by the use that, at the time, was made of the fountain: washing clothes. Very particular is the presence of the masks from which the water flows. All different from each other in shape and appearance, they would be linked to a tradition that goes back to the foundation of the city. On the other hand, the cladding works in pinkish white stone with a checkerboard composition date back to the 400th century. The works to complete the fountain continued in the 500s and again in the 700s when a Baroque imprint was given to the right side of the fountain. The creation of a wrought iron gate is more "recent". Dated 1943 it appears open on the front.
The fountain of 99 spouts and traditions
The fountain is linked to a series of stories that have become legendary. It is said that during the 200th century the Lords of 99 castles have been summoned here with the aim of creating a single city: L'aquila. The populations thus gathered occupied different neighborhoods in the center of which there was a square, a church and a fountain. This explains the number of masks that animate the upper basin, representations corresponding symbolically to the alleged 99 Lords of the castles. Similarly, according to this tradition, the 99 squares and the same number of fountains and churches in the city would find meaning. But the legend does not end there. A disturbing mystery is linked to the events of this construction.
It is said that in the past no one was aware of the exact location of the source that fed the fountain. The need to maintain confidentiality on this point would be linked to the 99 Lords of the gods castles. That is to prevent any of these from arrogating rights to the source. But you know, keeping a secret forever is certainly not easy! Here then is that to avoid a leak of news it was decided to eliminate the designer, in fact the sole repository of the precious information. Tradition has it that the unfortunate's body rests, to date, under the flooring of the hydraulic work. Between legend and reality of course the fountain of 99 spouts is a monument of important historical value. Through his grotesque and imaginative masks, he is able to tell us the history of the city, while at the same time offering the tourist a moment of rest and rest enlivened by the sound of the waters.
