About
Fonte Gaia, known in English as the Fountain of Joy, stands in the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy. It is a Renaissance fountain, and its marble reliefs were carved by Jacopo della Quercia, whose work gives the monument its character and draws visitors to the square.
What to see
The fountain is decorated with marble reliefs, and it is worth taking time to look closely at them rather than passing by quickly. Because it sits in the open square, you can view it from several sides and see how it fits into the shape of the Piazza del Campo around it.
The visit
- Location: Piazza del Campo, 53100 Siena, in the historic centre of the city.
- Kind of visit: a short, free-standing look at an art piece in a public square, easy to combine with a walk around the old town.
- Best paired with: a stroll through the surrounding streets and the square itself, which is the heart of Siena's daily life.
Fonte Gaia suits anyone interested in Renaissance sculpture or in the public art of Italian city squares. If you are already in Siena, it is a natural stop on a walk through the centre, where the square and its monuments make a pleasant part of the day.
