House of the Small Fountain, Pompei

House of the Small Fountain, Pompei

The House of the Small Fountain is found in the western end of Pompei, close to the ancient city walls. It was built in the 1st century BC, and combines architectural features which span the history of Pompei. Almost all of the rooms open onto a central atrium. The entrance of the house is heavily decorated, demonstrating the owner’s wealth and social status to all who visited the building. The roof sloped inwards, allowing rainwater to collect in the central impluvium. A cistern built below the basin gathered the water, which was then recovered and used in the production of food and wine.

The peristyle, located in the garden, is richly decorated with frescoes of landscapes and maritime buildings. Whilst many features of the house are consistent with BC-era Roman buildings, the key feature is a more modern addition. The fountain-nymphaeum, which gives the house its name, is believed to have become a fashionable feature in the 1st century AD. Like much of the house, it is heavily decorated with mosaics and sculptures. The fountain takes the form of a miniature arch with a triangular roof. The water springs into a hollow underneath the arch, with bronze statuettes on either side.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Pompei. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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House of the Small Fountain on Map

Sight Name: House of the Small Fountain
Sight Location: Pompei, Italy (See walking tours in Pompei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Pompei, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Pompei

Create Your Own Walk in Pompei

Creating your own self-guided walk in Pompei is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pompeii Introduction Walk I

Pompeii Introduction Walk I

Modern-day Pompei is best known for its ancient predecessor, the Roman city of Pompeii, that fell victim to the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ruins of Pompeii, first uncovered in the late 18th century, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Presently, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, drawing annually up to 2.5 million visitors.

The...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Frozen at the moment it was buried under the thick blanket of ash and pumice, the city of Pompeii (now excavated) remains a unique window into the past, offering a snapshot of everyday life back in the 1st century AD Roman Empire. Aside from causing quick and unexpected death to the city, the huge eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD did have one positive outcome – it preserved everything (properties,...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles