Fontana della Barcacia

This fountain, built in 1627, is probably the last masterprice of the father of Bernini. Sometimes it is said to be that his son had made this enormous ship. The barque, which can be seen in the middle of the Piazza di Spagna, right in the front of the Spanish Steps, reminds of the great inundation of the Tiber with Christmas in 1598. Bernini was inspired by this and that is the reason why he had made the fountain with a ship in it; A ship which sailed as far as the Spanish Steps during the inundation.

The fountain is also an invention for the problem of the low pressure of the aquaduct Acqua Vergine, which provides the fountain with water. That is the reason why he built everything on the ground.