Fontana Maggiore
Fontana Maggiore
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Aristofane
Roma21,530 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Rightly considered among the most beautiful fountains in Italy, the Fontana Maggiore of Perugia is located in the center of Piazza IV Novembre, contributing together with the surrounding buildings to define a complex of the highest cultural and aesthetic value.
It appears today more or less as it must have looked at the time of its construction, in the thirteenth century, when the need to supply water to an urban center located 400 or more meters above sea level was obviated. The purely technical aspect is impressive in itself, even if the visitor's attention is certainly attracted by the sculptural decoration, to which Nicola and Giovanni Pisano contributed: the tiles represent realities of all kinds, historical and biblical characters, the cycle of the months of this year, the liberal arts and other cultural elements of great importance in medieval culture (and beyond).
Understandably, the fountain is surrounded by a metal fence that prevents you from getting too close, but it doesn't spoil the overall view at all. A curiosity: the much less well-known Sturinalto Fountain in Fabriano appears very similar (and was probably inspired by the one in Perugia), which also deserves to be observed.
It appears today more or less as it must have looked at the time of its construction, in the thirteenth century, when the need to supply water to an urban center located 400 or more meters above sea level was obviated. The purely technical aspect is impressive in itself, even if the visitor's attention is certainly attracted by the sculptural decoration, to which Nicola and Giovanni Pisano contributed: the tiles represent realities of all kinds, historical and biblical characters, the cycle of the months of this year, the liberal arts and other cultural elements of great importance in medieval culture (and beyond).
Understandably, the fountain is surrounded by a metal fence that prevents you from getting too close, but it doesn't spoil the overall view at all. A curiosity: the much less well-known Sturinalto Fountain in Fabriano appears very similar (and was probably inspired by the one in Perugia), which also deserves to be observed.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,084 contributions
Aug 2022
The fountain has sat in the Piazza Novembre in the heart of Perugia since around 1275 and was erected when a new aquaduct was built to provide water to the elevated town of Perugia. They managed to get water , without pumps via a forced pressure duct system to flow up hill. For those that have seen the aquaduct it was quite a feat.The fountain is impressive and sits below the cathedral and cannot be missed when walking through Perugia
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iaia C
Rome, Italy6,122 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
A gate surrounds this work of art created between 1275 and 1278, preserving it from potentially harmful acts but still allowing it to be viewed. It is located in the liveliest point of today's Perugia, in Piazza lV Novembre, at the beginning of the lively Corso Vannucci, with the Palazzo dei Priori on one side and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo on the other.
The genius of two of the greatest sculptors of the thirteenth century, the brothers Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, is expressed in the perfection of what is represented on the two large basins in red stone from Assisi and in white and pink marble, men who brought prestige to Perugia and figures of prophets and characters from the Old Testament, symbolic animals, some allegories, the months of the year with their respective human activities. And, a not insignificant detail, the epigraph on the edge of the middle basin clarifies the purpose of this marvelous fountain: it was intended to celebrate the human ingenuity which, with the creation of the powerful work of the aqueduct, had managed to bring the water into city, a real challenge for those times.
The genius of two of the greatest sculptors of the thirteenth century, the brothers Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, is expressed in the perfection of what is represented on the two large basins in red stone from Assisi and in white and pink marble, men who brought prestige to Perugia and figures of prophets and characters from the Old Testament, symbolic animals, some allegories, the months of the year with their respective human activities. And, a not insignificant detail, the epigraph on the edge of the middle basin clarifies the purpose of this marvelous fountain: it was intended to celebrate the human ingenuity which, with the creation of the powerful work of the aqueduct, had managed to bring the water into city, a real challenge for those times.
Written April 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marina and Co. Ltd
St. Petersburg, Russia80,521 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Fontana Maggiore can be seen in the center of the main square Piazza IV Novembre, between Palazzo Priori and Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Lorenzo. History says that in 1277-1278 an aqueduct was built into the city, which at the same time was completed with the construction of a public fountain. Nicola and Giovanni Pisano (father and son) were responsible for the project and work on the creation of the hydraulic structure. The fountain is dedicated to the months of the year and history, science and art.☝️
Written October 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cob66
Gargano Peninsula, Italy1,678 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
At the heart of the magnificent Piazza IV Novembre, the heart of the city, is the splendid masterpiece of the Fontana Maggiore. Built at the end of the 13th century to celebrate the arrival of water in the city, it is made of Assisi stone and consists of two concentric polygonal basins, surmounted by a bronze cup adorned with a bronze group of female figures from which water flows. The lower basin consists of 25 mirrors, each of which is divided into two tiles; the 12 months of the year are represented accompanied by the zodiac signs, liberal arts, philosophy, characters from the Bible and the history of Rome. In the upper tank there are 24 statues placed at the corners, representing saints and mythological and biblical characters, of the new and old testament. A masterpiece of art, a unique wonder, definitely one of the most beautiful fountains in the world!!! Watching it carefully, you discover a succession of fine sculptural art. Absolutely not to be missed!!!!!
Automatically translated
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,286 contributions
Jun 2023
This extravagant marble and bronze fountain is the centrepiece of Perugia’s main square, Piazza IV Novembre. This is the best starting place to explore Perugia and even those on a tight itinerary, will spend some time here.
From a distance, the fountain looks a little like a wedding cake with two ornate tiers sitting on top of a polygonal stair base. Up close, it is full of highly detailed decoration.
Built between 1278 and 1280, the fountain was designed to celebrate the completion of a new aqueduct. It’s certainly celebrational - there are 50 bas-reliefs and 24 statues.
A lot of the detail would have been lost on me but for our guide book. A protective metal fence prevents you from getting too close but, using our guide book, we were still able to pick out different scenes and symbols.
There are three separate parts:
i) Lower Basin - has 25 scenes. Some show the months of the year and zodiac signs, others show Biblical stories and stories from Roman mythology. We spotted Romulus and Remus suckling the wolf, Adam and Eve being thrown out of Paradise and David and Goliath. We also found several of the months - November had people ploughing and in December they were killing a pig for winter supplies.
ii) Upper Basin - has 24 statues of saints and Biblical and historical figures. These were harder to identify but King David seemed to be holding a harp whilst somewhat more gruesomely, Salome was holding the head of St John the Baptist.
iii) Top Level - has 2 copper basins and a bronze cup, topped by a group of 3 bronze nymphs (Faith, Hope, Charity).
The fountain looked particularly pretty at night when it was illuminated.
From a distance, the fountain looks a little like a wedding cake with two ornate tiers sitting on top of a polygonal stair base. Up close, it is full of highly detailed decoration.
Built between 1278 and 1280, the fountain was designed to celebrate the completion of a new aqueduct. It’s certainly celebrational - there are 50 bas-reliefs and 24 statues.
A lot of the detail would have been lost on me but for our guide book. A protective metal fence prevents you from getting too close but, using our guide book, we were still able to pick out different scenes and symbols.
There are three separate parts:
i) Lower Basin - has 25 scenes. Some show the months of the year and zodiac signs, others show Biblical stories and stories from Roman mythology. We spotted Romulus and Remus suckling the wolf, Adam and Eve being thrown out of Paradise and David and Goliath. We also found several of the months - November had people ploughing and in December they were killing a pig for winter supplies.
ii) Upper Basin - has 24 statues of saints and Biblical and historical figures. These were harder to identify but King David seemed to be holding a harp whilst somewhat more gruesomely, Salome was holding the head of St John the Baptist.
iii) Top Level - has 2 copper basins and a bronze cup, topped by a group of 3 bronze nymphs (Faith, Hope, Charity).
The fountain looked particularly pretty at night when it was illuminated.
Written July 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulB
Maastricht, The Netherlands3,137 contributions
Aug 2022
The Fontana Maggiore in Piazza IV Novembre was built in the thirteenth century.
It was an important prestige object for Perugiade and the crowning glory of the work on the aqueduct that brought water to the center of Perugia.
It was an important prestige object for Perugiade and the crowning glory of the work on the aqueduct that brought water to the center of Perugia.
Written December 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zaira G
Italy182 contributions
Aug 2019
The entire city centre of Perugia is a must. Every corner boasts a historical masterpiece with a story to tell, like Fontana Maggiore which dates back to the late 13th century. It is built on a round stairway. The fountain is adorned by mythical characters and it is protected by a gate. Visitors can easily admire it from up close.
Written August 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cocciolino2015
Perugia, Italy450 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
I was shocked to read some of the reviews calling this fountain "plain" and "disappointing" and "seriously overrated". How can any work of medieval art so complicated and representative of a mighty city,as Perugia was at that time,be belittled in this manner I asked myself? Calming down and trying to relate to tired tourists coming through on a day trip to Perugia,Assisi, and who knows where else,I think it's one of the problems of Italy. A diet that is too rich,one marvel after another,numbs your taste buds. I am one of the fortunate who live here and have had time to digest these works of art over a period of years. At the University for Foreigners we did a course that was based entirely on the 50 marble panels and 24 small statues that compose the fountain. Each one represents something...months of the year,zodiac figures,traditional farming,liberal arts,Biblical scenes or prominent personages of Perugia. It's too much to take in,even with a knowledgeable guide, at a quick glance walking along the Corso Vannucci. It's truly a miracle that this beautiful fountain is still an open book exposed to the elements and daily events after over 700 years.
Written November 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Georgios G
Athens, Greece911 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
Fontana Maggiore is a very nice fountain located in the central square of the city of Perugia. If you look at it carefully, you can see it's a real masterpiece. Artists have created scenes from the the different seasons of the year presenting a picure of the life in Italy some centuries ago. If you have the chance, devote some time for visiting Fontana Maggiore!
Written March 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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