Wells in Slovenia - Da Ponte Fountain in Koper

A fountain known as the Da Ponte Fountain stands in the Koper square that today bears the name of Prešeren Square. The first mention of a fountain on this site, at the point where the former island of Koper was most closely connected to the mainland, dates from the first half of the fifteenth century.

This was also the termination of an aqueduct that supplied water to the town from the nearby hills. The construction of this aqueduct was one of the most significant feats of engineering in the history of Koper.

The stone fountain we see today dates from 1666 and is of baroque appearance. It was built on the orders of Lorenzo da Ponte, then podestà of Capodistria (Koper). The fountain continued to be used as a source of drinking water until 1898. The repaving of Prešeren Square in 1990 was also an occasion to carry out repairs to the fountain.

An octagonal basin is surmounted by the principal element of the fountain, a superstructure in the shape of a bridge. This is thought to symbolise the surname of the Da Ponte family. The 15 pilasters surrounding the basin bear the arms of other noble families of Koper who had contributed funds to the construction of this noteworthy baroque fountain. The enclosure formed by the 15 pilasters prevented animals from drinking from the fountain.

Some experts believe that the appearance of the fountain is reminiscent of the Ponte delle Guglie in Venice.

Janez Bogataj