Italy for me From Italy with love
The Fountain of Books (Fontana dei Libri) is a unique ornament gracing the wall of the State Archives of San Ivo alla Sapienza (Archivio di Stato di Roma).
This drinking fountain, one of thousands across Rome, is intricately and creatively designed—making it an irresistible photo opportunity!
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Description
The Fountain of Books was built in 1927 by architect Pietro Lombardi.
Lombardi won a competition to design several fountains aimed at restoring the historical identity of the city’s ancient districts. Lombardi gifted Rome and Italy several modern ornamental fountains: the Fountain of Amphorae (Fontana delle Anfore) in the Testaccio district, the Fountain of the Barrel (Fontana della Botte) in the Trastevere district, and others. He later contributed to the reconstruction of the Ariccia Bridge (Ponte di Ariccia) and Ciampino Airport (Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino).
Lombardi had a deep knowledge of Roman history, and every one of his works, every fountain, carried a profound hidden meaning. In the past, Via degli Staderari was known as University Street because the archive building once housed the University of Wisdom (Università della Sapienza). That’s why the fountain’s major decorative elements are large stone book volumes. Drinking water flows from bookmarks and covers of the stone tomes.
Below the books is a deer’s head—the ancient symbol of the Sant’Eustachio district, where the fountain is located. The nearby Palazzo Madama, once the residence of the Medici family, is also reflected in the fountain’s design. Five large pearls atop the sculpture symbolize the power and influence of the Medici house.
The entire composition is framed by an arch inscribed with the motto “SPQR” (“Senatus Populusque Romanus”). This slogan from the Roman Empire era, meaning “The Senate and the People of Rome,” remains one of the eternal city’s timeless emblems.
Fun fact: Above the deer’s head, the district number is carved. However, instead of the correct “VIII” for Sant’Eustachio, it mistakenly reads “IV.”
How to Get There
- Address: Via degli Staderari
- By bus: Routes 30, 70, 81, 87, 492, 628, N6, N7 to the Senato stop. Then walk south along Corso del Rinascimento to the intersection with Via degli Staderari. Alternatively, take the same bus routes to the Corso Rinascimento stop and walk north to the intersection with Via degli Staderari.
- Nearby attractions: Piazza Navona, Palazzo Madama, and the Pantheon.