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Fontana delle Tartarughe

This late Renaissance fountain stands in the centre of the small Piazza Mattei, in the area of the old Ghetto. The design is by Giacomo della Porta and the bronze part by Taddeo Landini, and it was built between 1580 and 1588. It was an unusual case in Rome, since it was not made for a pope but at the insistence of the Mattei family, who lived in the neighbouring block. The ensemble has four marble shells that receive water from dolphins and, above them, four bronze youths pushing turtles towards the rim of the upper basin. The turtles were not in the original design: they were added in 1658, during a restoration under Alexander VII, and are attributed to Bernini. They were stolen several times (1906, 1944 and 1981); three originals are now kept in the Capitoline Museums and copies can be seen in the square.

Things to do at Fontana delle Tartarughe: 2 missions

• Count Landini's bronze youthsLook at the four bronze youths set above the shells and notice the pose of each one.
• Find the turtles peeking over the rimWalk round the fountain until you find the bronze turtles climbing towards the upper basin, pushed by the youths. Notice how many there are and which way they face.

Near Fontana delle Tartarughe

Source: Web oficial - Turismo Roma