Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

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Map

Fountain of the Garden of Piazza Vittorio

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Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, better known as Piazza Vittorio, was designed by the Roman architect Gaetano Koch (1849-1910). On all sides of the piazza, which is the largest in Rome, are grand buildings with porticoes. In its centre is a large garden, which boasts a circular fountain, the remains of a Nymphaeum built by the emperor Alexander Severus (r. 222-35), the so-called Trophies of Marius, and the famous 17th century Porta Alchemica, also known as the Porta Magica.

Porta Magica

The Porta Magica does not lead anywhere; it is all that remains of theVilla Palombara, the residence of the Marquis Massimiliano Savelli Palombara. The doorframe, which sports a host of symbols and inscriptions in Latin and Hebrew (still to be deciphered), is flanked by two statues of the Egyptian god Bez. 

The centrepiece of the fountain takes the form of three entwined marble figures, a dolphin and an octopus, which was originally intended for the nearby Fountain of the Naiads. The work of Mario Rutelli, the sculpture was heavily criticised and nicknamed 'il fritto misto'. It was duly removed and replaced by the statue of Glaucus. 

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