Piazza della Repubblica & Fontana delle Naiadi (Republic Square & Fountain of the Naiads), Rome

Piazza della Repubblica & Fontana delle Naiadi (Republic Square & Fountain of the Naiads), Rome

Atop the Viminal Hill, the smallest among Rome's Seven Hills, lies the charming Republic Square. This semicircular piazza occupies the space that was once the exedra of the Baths of Diocletian, and the surrounding porticos were constructed between 1887 and 1898 by Gaetano Koch as a homage to the ancient structures that once adorned this site.

An exceptional attraction within the square is the St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, a church built inside the ruins of the frigidarium of the Roman Baths of Diocletian. Within this small basilica, visitors can discover a Meridian Line, commissioned by Pope Clement XI in 1702 and created by Francesco Bianchini. This line served as a means to verify the accuracy of the Gregorian Calendar and predict the exact dates of Easter for future centuries, as Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.

At the center of the square stands the captivating Fountain of the Naiads. The focal point of the fountain is Glaucus, a mortal fisherman transformed into a sea god, depicted wrestling a dolphin that spouts a powerful jet of water, symbolizing humanity's triumph over natural forces. Surrounding Glaucus are four naiads, water nymphs each representing different water sources. These include the Naiad of the Oceans riding a horse symbolizing waves, the Naiad of the Rivers riding a river monster, the Naiad of the Lakes holding a swan, and the Naiad of the Underground Waters riding a dragon.

The sculptural ensemble was created by Mario Rutelli, a Sicilian artist who, interestingly, was also the grandfather of Rome's former mayor, Francesco Rutelli. When unveiled to the public in 1901, the naiads' nudity and seductive poses caused a sensation, as they stood completely naked, drenched by water flowing from a large nozzle behind them, shimmering in the sunlight with provocative allure.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rome. 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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Piazza della Repubblica & Fontana delle Naiadi (Republic Square & Fountain of the Naiads) on Map

Sight Name: Piazza della Repubblica & Fontana delle Naiadi (Republic Square & Fountain of the Naiads)
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Rome, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Rome

Create Your Own Walk in Rome

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rome 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.
"Roman Holiday" Movie Walking Tour

"Roman Holiday" Movie Walking Tour

A movie beloved by generations of people, "Roman Holiday" (1953) was filmed entirely in Rome and starred two of Hollywood's greatest icons: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The romantic comedy would go on to earn three Oscars, including the best actress trophy for Hepburn, who is entirely sympathetic in a role that could have been off-putting. The main storyline centers on a day of...  view more

Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.0 Km or 5.6 Miles
Rome Introduction Walking Tour I

Rome Introduction Walking Tour I

Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus who were raised by a she-wolf. However, the pair argued about who had the support of the gods, and Romulus ended up killing Remus in a fight on what became Palatine Hill. Thus, Romulus named the city after himself and declared himself as king.

In a slightly less glorious account, Rome actually began as an Iron Age...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Food Tasting Walking Tour

Food Tasting Walking Tour

Whether it’s a long lunch or a stop-off for an ice cream on an evening stroll, eating in Rome is a very social activity. Culinary traditions run deep here, and it may well be one of Italy’s most pleasurable cities in which to eat. Deli shops, prosciutterias, pizzerias, fornos (bakeries) and caffès are also very popular and offer a great alternative to a restaurant meal.

On this...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain

An established tourist mecca, today's Rome is hardly imaginable without two of its much loved attractions – the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Magnets for tourists as they are, these two sights are connected to a number of other, not less worthy of attention locations, such as the Fountain of the Longboat or Piazza Colonna and its centerpiece, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, to...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Roman Forum and Imperial Forums Walking Tour

Roman Forum and Imperial Forums Walking Tour

It's a known fact that "Rome wasn't built in a day." But when it was finally built, it stood the test of time and became "the eternal city." Many have heard that "all roads lead to Rome," but very few probably realize that inside Rome itself all roads lead to the Forum.

The central hub of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum (also known by its Latin name...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Holy Sites Walking Tour

Holy Sites Walking Tour

As the cradle of the Catholic Church, one of the world's largest organizations, Rome has a large number of valuable, sacred places of worship. Crowded with architectural splendors from different periods of time, each of its churches and basilicas represent a significant part of culture and history.

Take this self-guided walking tour to discover Rome's magnificent religious heritage,...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.9 Km or 4.3 Miles

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