Fontana delle Api
On the Piazza Barberini two fountains of the family Barberini can be seen; the Tritonfountain and on the corner the fountain of the bees, The Fontana delle Api. At first we talk about Fontana delle Api. This fountain is the 2nd one, which is made by Bernini; for them in the 17th century. This fountain is not as spectacular as the first one he made, but it is also a masterpiece.
In this fountain, the water is flowinf into an opened cockle, on which bees of the Barberini familyarms have struck for having a little bit of it.
There is a story about this fontein. A long time ago, when the Romans were very very superstitious there was an inscription which said the fontain was erected in the 22nd year of the pontificate of Urbanus VIII (family of Barberini). But it was not then, it was some days, before his 21st birthday, when he became King (the statue was erected because of that). The Romans, afraid of the things which could happen chiseled the last "I" away, but it was too late already. Urbanus VIII died that night; the 29. July, just eight days before his 22nd birthday. So the lesson might be clear: Do not lie, because otherwise …