| The 99 Cannelle fountain is the oldest monument of the city. Il was built in 1272, near the river Aterno, and serves as a metaphor of the city, which, like water, could only take form if its individual components combined as a single entity. Hence a single fountain with 99 spouts representing the castles that participated in the foundation. The fountain is framed on three sides by a tall wall with a white and pink checkerboard pattern. A row of 99 different grotesque masks, each with its own spout, spurt water into the troughs below, which then filter into a series of lower troughs. The original fountain only occupied the central wall. It consisted of a single trough with pillarets with a first group of mask. In 1582, the lefthand wall was built and at some time during that century the lower square was openend. In 1871 six spouts were added, bringing the total to the legendary 99.Via MAdo |