The tiny Piazza Mattei, located between the busy Piazza Venezia and the silent ghetto, there seems to be a favorite destination for tourists as well as the Romans, but rather a quiet spot for quick passage. Yet the beautiful Renaissance fountain by 
Giacomo Della Porta, called the “fountain of the turtles”Maybe run a design by Raphael, worth a stay, not only because, as many say, the sculptural beauty of the element takes precedence over architecture, but because of those turtles is also carved a legend.About 400 years ago there lived in Rome a duke of the Mattei family, whose palace, which gives the name and overlooks the homonymous square, is still visible. The Duke Mattei was an avid gambler, and was able to be played in one night all of his assets, including the building in which he lived.
The news of the crushing loss soon reached the ears of the future father of the duke, who ordered it to find another girlfriend. The duke, outraged by this insult, he decided to show the father of the bride that Mattei, despite the losses and all claims of the people, would always be a noble and honorable a man of power. To prove it he said that if in one night might have lost his palace and his money, he would have done in one night even create something extraordinary. In fact, from evening to morning, he raised up in front of the window of the house, where now you can admire the beautiful fountain of turtles. The duke hastened to invite his girlfriend in his palace with his father. He received them in a room where, suddenly opening the window, he showed them the precious fountain, saying: “You see what he is capable of doing in a few hours a penniless like me.” Father and daughter were astonished at the sight, and the father had to apologize to the Duke and riconcedergli his daughter in marriage. The duke also commanded a view that runs from the window in order to pass on the memory of that event, would be prevented forever.
In fact, we even today we can admire the fountain, looking at the midpoint of the facade of the building, so well located, a window … designed for closure of all architects in the world would not know otherwise giving any explanation.
But how did the Duke to make the fountain in one night? We know that the fountain was built in 1585, while the story, such as the Palazzo Mattei, is about 50 years later. There then arises the suspicion that the Duke, in that one night he had simply move the fountain, which until then had been placed nearby but in a more hidden.
Giacomo Della Porta, called the “fountain of the turtles”
Maybe run a design by Raphael, worth a stay, not only because, as many say, the sculptural beauty of the element takes precedence over architecture, but because of those turtles is also carved a legend.
About 400 years ago there lived in Rome a duke of the Mattei family, whose palace, which gives the name and overlooks the homonymous square, is still visible. The Duke Mattei was an avid gambler, and was able to be played in one night all of his assets, including the building in which he lived.
The news of the crushing loss soon reached the ears of the future father of the duke, who ordered it to find another girlfriend. The duke, outraged by this insult, he decided to show the father of the bride that Mattei, despite the losses and all claims of the people, would always be a noble and honorable a man of power. To prove it he said that if in one night might have lost his palace and his money, he would have done in one night even create something extraordinary. In fact, from evening to morning, he raised up in front of the window of the house, where now you can admire the beautiful fountain of turtles. The duke hastened to invite his girlfriend in his palace with his father. He received them in a room where, suddenly opening the window, he showed them the precious fountain, saying: “You see what he is capable of doing in a few hours a penniless like me.” Father and daughter were astonished at the sight, and the father had to apologize to the Duke and riconcedergli his daughter in marriage. The duke also commanded a view that runs from the window in order to pass on the memory of that event, would be prevented forever.
In fact, we even today we can admire the fountain, looking at the midpoint of the facade of the building, so well located, a window … designed for closure of all architects in the world would not know otherwise giving any explanation.
But how did the Duke to make the fountain in one night? We know that the fountain was built in 1585, while the story, such as the Palazzo Mattei, is about 50 years later. There then arises the suspicion that the Duke, in that one night he had simply move the fountain, which until then had been placed nearby but in a more hidden.