Fontana dei delfini

In 1861 pope Pious the Ninth (1846-1878) built a fountain called “dei delfini” (of the dauphins) in the square dedicated to him to replace the more ancient one commissioned by Paul the Fifth Borghese  (1605-1621) in 1614 to Maderno, which was falling into ruins at the far edge of the part of the district of Borgo called “spina di Borgo” that was demolished. The fountain was designed by Filippo Martinucci and consisted of a pond with dauphins enclosed within a niche surmounted by a shell. After the demolition of the part of the district of Borgo called “spina di Borgo” (1936), the fountain was removed and reassembled (1958) within the Vatican City in front of the car park, where it is currently located.