Great Onofrio Fountain

The Onofrio’s Fountains, located at the ends of the famous Stradun street in the Old City of Dubrovnik, are among the most iconic and fascinating structures in the city. These fountains not only represent an important work of medieval engineering, but also bear witness to an era when public water supply was essential for urban life. Built between 1438 and 1440, the fountains were designed by the Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cava, after whom they are named. Onofrio was commissioned by the government of Dubrovnik to create a system of aqueducts that would bring water from a source located about 12 kilometers away, in Rijeka Dubrovačka, to the heart of the city. This project was essential to ensure a constant supply of fresh water in a city where summers were long and dry. The Great Onofrio’s Fountain, located near the Pile Gate, is the better known of the two. This monumental structure, with its sixteen-sided polygonal shape and central dome, was originally decorated with elaborate sculptural reliefs. Each side of the fountain features a “mask”, a stone-carved face from which water flows from the mouth. These artistic details reflect the skill of the sculptors of the time and add an element of beauty to the functionality of the fountain. Despite suffering significant damage during the 1667 earthquake, the fountain still retains its grandeur and continues to provide drinking water. The Small Onofrio’s Fountain, located at the opposite end of Stradun, near the Clock Tower and the Church of St. Blaise, is less imposing but equally fascinating. Built between 1440 and 1442, this fountain primarily served the market in Luža Square. Its octagonal structure is decorated with reliefs of children, dolphins, and shells, the work of the sculptor Pietro di Martino from Milan. This fountain is particularly known for its mention in the Renaissance comedy “Novela od Stanca” by Marin Držić, a local playwright. Both fountains were part of a water supply system that was an extraordinary innovation for the time. Water was transported through an aqueduct nearly 12 kilometers long, which used gravity to ensure a constant flow to the city fountains. This system remained in use until the late 19th century, when a modern water distribution system took its place.