DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61894#0021
Ch. I. THROUGH ITALY. li
The Fontana Felice, in the Piazze dei Ter-
mini ontheViminal Mount, deserves to be men-
tioned first, because first erected. It is supplied
by the Aqua Claudia drawn from the Alban or
rather Tusculan hills, and conveyed to Rome by
channels under, and aqueducts above ground;
some of which are ancient, some modern. It
discharges itself through a rock under an Ionic
arcade built of white stone, and faced with
marble. It is adorned by several gigantic statues,
the principal of which represents Moses striking
the rock whence the water issues. On the one
side, Aaron conducts the Israelites; on the other,
Gideon leads his chosen soldiers to the brink of
the torrent: below, four lions, two of marble and
two of basaltes ornamented with hieroglyphics,
hang over the vast basin as if in haste to slake
their thirst. The restoration of this noble fountain
and the ornaments which grace it, are owing to
the spirit of Sixtus Quintus, and it bears the name
of Aqua Felice, and is supposed to be now as an-
ciently peculiarly wholesome.
Nearly opposite, but beyond the Tiber and on
the brow of the Janiculum, rises an arcade sup-
ported by six pillars of granite. Three torrents
rushing from the summit of the hill, tumble
through the three principal arches of this arcade,
and fill an immense marble basin with the purest
The Fontana Felice, in the Piazze dei Ter-
mini ontheViminal Mount, deserves to be men-
tioned first, because first erected. It is supplied
by the Aqua Claudia drawn from the Alban or
rather Tusculan hills, and conveyed to Rome by
channels under, and aqueducts above ground;
some of which are ancient, some modern. It
discharges itself through a rock under an Ionic
arcade built of white stone, and faced with
marble. It is adorned by several gigantic statues,
the principal of which represents Moses striking
the rock whence the water issues. On the one
side, Aaron conducts the Israelites; on the other,
Gideon leads his chosen soldiers to the brink of
the torrent: below, four lions, two of marble and
two of basaltes ornamented with hieroglyphics,
hang over the vast basin as if in haste to slake
their thirst. The restoration of this noble fountain
and the ornaments which grace it, are owing to
the spirit of Sixtus Quintus, and it bears the name
of Aqua Felice, and is supposed to be now as an-
ciently peculiarly wholesome.
Nearly opposite, but beyond the Tiber and on
the brow of the Janiculum, rises an arcade sup-
ported by six pillars of granite. Three torrents
rushing from the summit of the hill, tumble
through the three principal arches of this arcade,
and fill an immense marble basin with the purest