Rome’s Charm, Il Nasone

Rome’s Charm, Il Nasone

My first day back in the studio after 2 months away traveling and painting through the U.S. I grabbed my painting gear and headed to Villa Pamphili just around the corner from my studio.

Without a specific thing or place in mind to paint, I headed into the park and stopped here just along the wall- perfect!

Il Nasone, Villa Pamphili
Oil on Linen Panel
SOLD

I love these fountains, so symbolic of Rome to me and dot every neighborhood and park wherever you go. This fountain seems to have stopped working, but the sliver of light coming in against the gratified wall made me happy to be back.

These water fountains, well over 1,000 throughout the city and outlying areas are affectionately called “nasone” by locals. Nasone literally means big nose and refers to the hooked water spout. Locals know how to drink from these- you cover the spout at the bottom and water shoots straight up through another smaller hole in the top of the hooked spout, just like a public water fountain in the U.S. only the water is better and is always cool and refreshing.

More than once I have reassured suspecting tourists that not only is the water safe to drink, it is excellent and refreshing! No more buying water and lugging it around all day, all you have to do is make a pit stop at any nasone as you walk the streets and explore the city.