River Fountain in Villa Celimontana

The River Fountain which dates back to the 17th century, is located inside Villa Celimontana, on the Celio hill. Commissioned by Ciriaco Mattei, the fountain is made up of an elliptical basin behind which stands an architectural masonry backdrop with two open niches on the sides.

The backdrop is surmounted by a semi-reclining marble statue, perhaps a personification of the Black River, which supports a wineskin from which flows the water collected in the basin below.

The head of the statue, stolen in 2005, was recovered and returned to its place in 2007.