The Fountain of the Barrel is a suggestive work of art by the sculptor and architect Pietro Lombardi who was commissioned some public fountains by the Municipality of Rome.
This work of art is located in Via della Cisterna and is attached to a brick wall to which a travertine arch has been built.
It is formed by a base where a barrel called by the Romans "caratello" has been placed: this definition was given to the barrels that transported the wine with the wagons. From this barrel comes out the water that goes to pour in the underlying basin symbolized by a vat of must. The barrel is flanked by two one-litre measures of wine from which the water also comes out.
It is interesting to note how the Romans once used to call the measures of wine: "sospiro" or "sottovoce" 1/10 of a litre, "chirichetto" 1/5 of a litre, "quartino" 1/4 of a litre, "fojetta" 1/2 of a litre, and finally "barzilai" 2 litres, named after the politician Barzilai, who used to offer wine in 2 litre containers during electoral campaigns.
