The Fountain of the World

Map

Fountain of the Grand Sphere

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The Fontana della Sfera Grande (Fountain of the Grand Sphere) stands opposite the Palazzo Farnesina, which, since 1959, has housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The fountain, which is also known as the Fontana del Mondo (Fountain of the World), was commissioned by Amintore Fanfani, the then Foreign Minister, and designed by the architect Enrico Del Debbio. It reuses the large, bronze sculpture that Arnaldo Pomodoro made for the International and Universal Exhibition (Expo 67), which was held in Montreal in 1967. 

​The fountain was inaugurated on May 4th, 1968, and, as the inscription proclaims, dedicated 'to the Italians who honour their country in the world'. 

The Palazzo della Farnesina, which was designed by Enrico Del Debbio, Arnaldo Foschini & Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, was originally designated to be the headquarters of the Italian Fascist Party. Work began in 1935, but stopped in 1943, following the downfall of Mussolini. The palazzo was finally completed in 1959. 

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Fountain of the Grand Sphere