Fontana dell'Acqua Paola

Known locally as Il Fontanone, this monumental fountain crowns the Janiculum slope above Trastevere and celebrates the restoration of an ancient aqueduct under Pope Paul V in the early seventeenth century. Its wide arched facade of white marble, some of it reused from ancient monuments, frames great sheets of water pouring into a broad basin added later. The terrace before it offers a sweeping view over the rooftops and domes of the city. The fountain has become a familiar cinematic backdrop and a popular spot to pause on the walk up the hill.