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Fontana delle Rane

Fontana delle Rane is a monumental fountain in Bolzano, originally designed by sculptor Ignaz Gabloner and installed in 1930 in front of the city’s railway station. Its bronze frogs give the fountain its name, spraying long streams of water toward a large central basin made of stone and marble. The main basin is topped with bronze amphorae that release additional jets, and it is decorated with garlands and the city coat of arms. Heavily damaged during World War II air raids, the fountain was rebuilt after the war following the original design, with only minor changes. After being switched off and falling into disrepair in 2014, it was restored and turned back on in the summer of 2017.

The Fountain of the Frogs stone fountain sprays water in a city square with a large classical building in the background.
The Fountain of the Frogs in a city square, with water spraying from its tiered stone basins.
May 2024 © · CC BY 4.0
Fountain of the Frogs stone fountain with water cascading into a circular basin
The Fountain of the Frogs in a tree-lined square, with water flowing into the stone basin.
© · Public domain
Fountain of the Frogs with a tiered stone basin and dark jugs on the top tier.
The Fountain of the Frogs shows a multi-tiered stone basin with dark jugs grouped at the top.
October 2024 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stone fountain with metal frog statues beside a park path, with trees and a building in the background.
The Fountain of the Frogs stands beside a pathway in the park, with trees and a building behind it.
March 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Three bronze frog sculptures on the Fountain of the Frogs spouting water from a stone basin.
Close-up of the Fountain of the Frogs, showing three frog sculptures spraying water.
October 2024 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleFontana delle Rane
Alternative namesFroschbrunnen; Fröschebrunnen; Fontana delle rane
Typefountain

Location and ownership

Protection statusPlaced under monument protection in 2021
LocationBahnhofsplatz, Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

Historical context

Original siteIn front of Bolzano railway station, at the edge of the city park
PurposeTo enhance the station square and give it an urban character
ContextConnected to the redesign of Bolzano railway station completed in 1928
Date inauguratedAugust 1929

Creator

Original design byFrancesco Rossi
Sculptural decoration byIgnaz Gabloner
Construction executed bySicea construction company, Milan

Discovery and provenance

Built on the site ofAn old excise house / customs house built in 1874

Physical characteristics

Original central featureA 10-meter-high fountain jet rose from the center of the upper basin
Lighting17 spotlights installed in the ground of the lower basin
Decorative figuresTwelve bronze frogs on the corners of the lower basin
StructureTwo fountain basins, with a lower basin and a higher second basin
Decorative elementsNine bronze amphorae, garlands, and the city coat of arms

Materials

MaterialsBronze frogs and amphorae; artificial-stone basins; lower basin later clad in travertine

Technique

Water effectFrogs spout water from their mouths into the upper basin; amphorae emit additional water jets

Iconography and meaning

Art-historical referenceIn the tradition of the Latona Fountain in Versailles
Intended effectThe spray was meant to provide pleasantly noticeable cooling of the air around the fountain

History and restoration

Damage in World War IIHeavily damaged and then completely destroyed by a direct bomb hit on 29 March 1944
ReconstructionRebuilt in 1955 according to the original design, with some small modifications, with the involvement of Ignaz Gabloner and Francesco Rossi
Reconstruction changesClassical Latin inscriptions were removed; the names of Ignaz Gabloner and Francesco Rossi were placed again in inscriptions on the base of the upper fountain bowl
Later conditionSwitched off in 2014 because of electrical system problems and fell into neglect
RestorationRestored and switched back on in summer 2017; restored again in 2023

Significance

StatusConsidered a landmark of Bolzano