All you need to know about the Fountain of the Bees in Rome, one of Rome’s monumental fountain by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. History, facts, tips for visiting.
The Fountain of the Bees is a monumental fountain in Rome city center by architect and sculpture Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Less know than other works by Bernini, yet beautiful and significant, the fountain is close to the famous Fountain of the Triton by the same author and easy to visit in the same session as its more famous neighbor.
The Fountain of the Bees is a must stop on a Bernini itinerary in Rome and a peculiar sight to admire if you happened to stumble upon it while visiting the Trevi district.
This is all you need to know about this peculiar Rome fountain.
You may also like >>> our guide to the best fountains in Rome (known and lesser known)
The Fountain of the Bees: facts
| Name | Fontana delle Api / Fountain of the Bees |
| Author | Gian Lorenzo Bernini |
| Client | Pope Urban VIII Barberini |
| Material | Travertine |
| Year of constriction | 1644 |
| Style | Baroque |
| Water source | Acquedotto Felice |
| Opening Hours | N/A |
| Tickets / Admissions | N/A |
Fountain of the bees: history and description
Bernini sculpted the Fountain of the Bees in 1644, by commission of his most generous and prolific patron: Pope Urban VIII Barberini.
The fountain was an appendix to the more elaborate, monumental fountain, the Fountain of The Triton, finished the year before.
The fountain of the bees was supposed for collection of overflowing water from the Fountain of the Triton and was originally on the corner between now Piazza Barberini and Via Sistina, in front of Palazzo Soderini.
However, later traffic needs meant the fountain left its original spot:
However, later traffic needs meant the fountain left its original spot: it is now located a little further up the road, on the junction between Piazza Barberini and Via Veneto.
The Fountain of the Bees represents a large shell, opening up as a fan on top of large water basis.
Between the two, a large carving of a bee acts as connection between the horizontal and vertical elements of the fountains.
Additional bees decorate the bottom of the fountain and a large inscription commemorates and honors Pope Urban VIII, who commissioned the work.
The choice of bees may sound surprising however, it is a theme that we found repeatedly in Rome and in Bernini’s work especially.
The bees were the symbol of the Barberini family and are present in their coat of arms: their presence is therefore always a not to the family financing the work and a way to honor them.
How to see the Fountain of the Bees
The Fountain of the Bees sits in the corner of Piazza Barberini and Via Veneto, as if overlooking this busy junction.
Despite its large size, if you don’t know the fountain is there, you can easily miss it: just in front it, large PIazza Barberini opens and your gaze is likely to wander to the main focal point of this beautiful Rome Piazza: the Fountain of the Triton!
Enjoying this fountains is, however, easy: Metro Barberini stop is here and many buses also serve this area, which you can then explore on foot.
Buses serving this piazza are: 52, 53, 61, 63, 80, 80L, 85, 160, 630
What to see near Fontana delle Api by Bernini
The Fountain of the Bees is close to several attractions.
For a complete guide to the area, I recommend you have a look at my visitors’ guide to the Trevi District.
Those closest to it worth seeing are:
The Fountain of the Triton – already mentioned and one of the most famous fountains by Bernini in Rome
Palazzo Barberini, now the seat of the National Gallery of Ancient Art and one of the best museums in Rome
Trevi Fountain – the most famous fountain in Rome!
The Spanish Steps – one of Rome’s most iconic sites
Other important Bernini Fountains in Rome
Bernini was one of the most prolific sculptures and architects in Rome and left many works of art in the city.
Among hist most famous fountain, worth a mention are:
The Fountain of the Four Rivers, at the center of Piazza Navona
La Barcaccia, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps
If you love to learn more about Bernini’s masterpieces, you can read here >>>> our guide to finding Bernini’s work in Rome.