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FOUNTAIN MASCHERONE

The Fountain of the Mask is located in Spoleto, in Piazza Bernardino Campello, for Spoleto yet piazza San Simone, close to the Rocca Albornoz. It is set against the left wall of the thirteenth-century former church of Saints Simon and Jude. It owes its name to the strange face at the center of a large newsstand, traits some 'human and a little' felines. It is carved in stone and crowned with laurel; It is perhaps a pagan god, tragic and mocking expression, but at the same time sympathetic. Deformed by the enormous mouth comes a great jet of water that flows cascaded in three tanks.
The shrine at the top has an inscription dated 1736:
CLEMENT XII P.O.M.
QUOD
LUDOVICO DE VALENTIBUS PATRIC SPOLET
PROTON APOSTOLIC ET FIDEI PROMOT
ROGANTE
AQUAEDUCTUM VETUSTATE DEHISCENTEM
SINGULARI MUNIFICENTIA
PUBLICAE COMMODITATI RESTITUERIT
PROVIDO BENEFICENTISSIMOQ PRINCIPLES
S.P.Q.S.
ANNO DOMINI MDCCXXXVI
The text solemnly recalls a historical event: the generous intervention of Pope Clement XII about restoration, urged by Monsignor Ludovico Valenti, the ancient aqueduct of Spoleto, which debouched in the square coming from Cortaccione and crossing the Tower Bridge and then branch out and reach wells and pipelines towns.
Perhaps on this occasion came also the restoration of the existing fountain, which served as Castellum Aquae, ie drinking water distribution point. The current one has thus replaced an existing public sources already present in the square since the Middle Ages.
From a sonnet of 1670, contained in a manuscript entitled "Delusions of Ottusi" written by the Academy of Ottusi, that the fountain was already then in its present form. The overall appearance of the fountain refers to two different construction periods: the eighteenth-century shrine it includes items such as the seventeenth-century character mask and the smallest bath, perhaps a former coffin, counting elements, probably belonging to the previous fountain.
At the sides of the cross and the knight, coat of arms of the city of Spoleto. The mask is made in 1640 to a design of the otherwise unknown Emanuele Crise, dating back to 32 years earlier. In 1817 the fountain was surrounded by a fence to prevent ferroper there abbeverassero animals of "Montagnoli" entering the city. In the preventive work table of 1817 reads: Fontanone in San Simone gather all the water, you run into town so for drinking, and for other uses necessary to life. Although it is forbidden to deface these waters, as well all watch not enough to prevent these problems ... This work is absolutely necessary. The balustrade, to lance-shaped rods, which can be seen in vintage photo was later removed, probably in 1913, on the occasion of the works of Restoration promoted and directed by Giuseppe Sordini, and used to protect the apse of the church of San Gregorio, where still it is. On the right side it is placed a fountain which is also topped by an inscription dated 1642, possibly belonging to the seventeenth century renovation of the Mask. The water comes out of a very worn tome, probably a lion's head and settles on an octagonal tray.
He Law on:
D O M
MAGNAM ANTIQUORUM LIBERALITATEM
CONDUCENDIS AQUIS AD PUBLICAM UTILITATEM
UT DISCAS
INCOSERVANDIS EXERCEAS
S P Q S
MDCXLII
Another small headstone bears the inscription BIBE VIATOR ( "drink traveler"), probably a reminder addressed to travelers on their way to the fortress.
The fountain has been completely restored in 2012 by the Cooperative CooBeC-cultural heritage of Spoleto at the expense of the municipality. An earlier restoration by the association Friends of Spoleto and the Italian Mobil Oil, dates back to the late seventies.