Inside Villa Borghese in Rome, to be precise in the silent Garden of the Lake, we encounter the Gaia F ountain, also known as the Fountain of the Satyrs or of the Rabbits. In the center of the basin a satyr and his companion (a nymph and a faun in Roman mythology), portrayed in a play with their infant, create an intimate scene. In the overhang four rabbit heads pour crystal clear water. it is a fascinating modern sculpture, but it is essential not to confuse it with Siena’s famous Fonte Gaia.
Rome’s Fonte Gaia or Fountain of Rabbits
In Villa Borghese, this fountain is also known as Fonte dei Satiri or, more popularly, Fonte dei Conigli. The fountain is located in a quiet area of the park: the Giardino del Lago, a short distance from the artificial pond with the famous Temple of Aesculapius.
The sculpture evokes a sense of joy and merging with nature, typical of classical mythology (hence the name “Gaia” meaning joy). So if you are feeling sad, we recommend a walk in the park (which is known to improve the mood) and then get to observe this fountain. Engraved on the fountain’s frame is a Latin inscription that extols its beauty and meaning: “FONS CANIT VITAE LAVDEM MVRMVRE SVO” (The murmur of the fountain sings the praise of life).
Despite its setting in a historic villa, the Gaia Fountain is not ancient, but a 20th-century work: it was made between 1927 and 1928 (but displayed in 1929), by Sicilian sculptor Giovanni Nicolini (1872-1956), who executed it on behalf of the Governorate of Rome.
Although the theme is classical, the style is at the end of Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau) or twentieth-century influences. The Gaia Fountain is a work that deserves a stop during a walk in Villa Borghese for its sculptural intensity and striking location.