Storms splatter Rome’s freshly cleaned fountains in muddy water

A picture shows the Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) at Piazza Navona after its restoration as part of works in Rome ahead the Catholic jubilee year 2025, on December 23, 2024. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

ROME — A surge of rainwater into a Roman aqueduct brought muddy water spilling into the Italian capital’s iconic — and newly cleaned — fountain in Piazza Navona, city authorities said Saturday.

Rainy weather in recent days caused an overload in the Traiano Paolo aqueduct, which transports water into the city from Lake Bracciano, some 40 kilometers to the north, the city said in a statement.

“There was a spill of water and mud into the monumental fountains of Piazza Navona and Piazza Farnese supplied by the aqueduct,” it said.

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Technicians “immediately took action to assess any damage, keep the basins clean and monitor the situation,” it said, saying the normal flow of water would be restored by Sunday morning.

According to utility ACEA, which manages the aqueduct, “the event was caused by the heavy rains of recent days, which led to a significant increase in the murkiness of the aqueduct springs”.

The fountains were reopened to the public in December after a months-long operation to clean them.

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The city said the spill would not cause any damage to the basin surfaces once re-cleaned.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers, designed by Bernini in 1651, is the centerepiece of the baroque Piazza Navona.

The pair of fountains in nearby Piazza Farnese are made from original Roman basins believed to come from the Baths of Caracalla, with additions from the early 17th century.