Fontana delle 99 Cannelle

The Fontana delle 99 Cannelle is L'Aquila's most emblematic monument, built in 1272 near the old city walls. The fountain is housed in a three-sided enclosure of pink-and-white masonry, and each side carries a row of carved stone faces — 99 in total — each spouting water into the basin below. The symbolism is deliberate: the recurring motif of 99 runs through the city, a reference to the legend that L'Aquila was founded by the inhabitants of 99 surrounding castles.

The fountain survived the 2009 earthquake largely intact and is one of the most immediately accessible of L'Aquila's monuments. Coming here in the early morning, before the city is fully awake, you can hear the 99 streams of water clearly in the courtyard. The location, near the old walls to the northeast of the historic centre, means it is often missed by visitors who stay close to the main piazzas — which means you can usually have it almost to yourself.

things to do sight
A story
The 99 stone-carved faces on the fountain have been studied extensively, but their identities remain disputed. Some scholars identify them as the lords of the 99 castles that supposedly united to found L'Aquila in the 13th century. Others see a Roman calendar or astrological system. The faces are all different — some human, some animal, some fantastical — and the water has flowed continuously from all 99 spouts for over 700 years.