Fontana del Timone - Fountain of the Helm

The fountain of the Timone (Helm) leans against the huge building of San Michele a Ripa. It was built by Pietro Lombardi in 1927 to commemorate the river traffics that thrived in the port of Ripagrande below. The monument stands on a porphyry plinth and draws inspiration from various nautical elements such as the wheel, the large handles and, indeed, the rudder, arranging them in such a way as to create water features that flow into two basins below – one suspended and one underground.

Lombardi was the creator of other original fountains located in some of the twenty-two Rioni of the city. They have elements and decorations that recall the coats of arms, professions, and distinctive features of each area. They are: the Fontana dei Libri (Fountain of Books) in Rione Sant'Eustachio; the Fontana delle Anfore (Fountain of the Amphorae) in Rione Testaccio; the Fontana degli Artisti (Fountain of the Artists) in Rione Campo Marzio; the Fontana dei Monti (Fountain of the Mountains) in Rione Monti; the Fontana della Botte (Fountain of the Barrel) in Trastevere; the Fontana della Pigna (Fountain of the Pine Cone) in Rione Pigna; and, in Borgo, the Fontana delle Palle di Cannone (Fountain of the Cannon Balls) and the Fontana delle Tiare (Fountain of the Tiaras).