Fraternal Fountain

The "Fontana Fraterna" (or Fountain of the Fraterna, Fountain of the Conception, Fountain of the Seven Spouts or simply Fraterna) is an elegant public fountain, as well as a symbol, of the city of Isernia. Also listed by the Treccani Encyclopedia among the most beautiful in Italy, with six jets of water, unusual lodge-like shapes and made of compact limestone blocks, it is one of the most significant and important works in the city of Isernia. The Rampiniani family commissioned the structure. Fontana Fraterna is counted among the most beautiful Italian fountains; the six jets of water take the form of a loggia. the fountain was made of limestone blocks. The initial location of the monument was different: located in Piazza Fraterna, it was moved to the historic center after the bombings of World War II. The fountain is made of local stone blocks from buildings in the city. The monument consists of circular columns with an octagonal shape. The stone slabs at the base of the columns are probably of Roman origin. A larger slab is placed in the center of the fountain: it is decorated with dolphins and a flower; it probably comes from a Roman tomb. It is possible to recognize various epigraphs on the structure of the monument. Despite the difficulties in recognizing the exact age of construction of the structure, it bears historical and artistic evidence of earlier periods. One of the slabs that make up the fountain apparently belonged to the burial monument of Pontius Pilate.