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THE BERNINI’S BARCACCIA, A BOAT IN THE ROME CITY CENTER

At the end of the Spanish Steps is the famous Barcaccia by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. We are talking about one of the most incredible fountains in Rome: as a matter of fact, this was the first time that a fountain was conceived entirely as a sculptural work and not simply as a fountain for water. But why Barcaccia, which literally means “long boat”? According to a well-known popular belief, its particular form may have been inspired by the presence on the square of a boat in dryness, brought there by the flood of the Tiber of 1598.

Others suggested that this place was formerly used as a small naumachia, or a place where teathrical naval battles took place. In both cases, the name “Barcaccia” refers to an old vessel that is close to sinking. Probably, it was called “barcaccia” a kind of boat which, in Ancient Rome, was used for the river transport of wine barrels, and which, very similar to the Berninis’ work, had low sides.

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