All you need to know about the nasoni, Rome’s free drinking fountains

Need a drink while exploring Rome? Skip the bottled water sold at tourist attractions and head for the nasoni to quench your thirst like the Romans do. These local drinking fountains are an integral part of Rome’s cultural heritage and the perfect way to stay hydrated on your travels. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Rome’s drinking fountains and how they work.

The nasoni is what Romans call their drinking fountains, which are typically a cylindrical cast iron column with a thin protruding spout midway up the post. The name nasone (nasoni in singular form) translates to ‘big nose’, named after the nose-like shape of the curved, downward-facing spout.

The nasoni comes in many designs and shapes. Some of these fountains are more decorative and feature sculptures and carvings, while others are just a spout sticking out of a wall. The initials SPQR on the nasoni indicate that they were built by the ancient Roman government (Senātus Populusque Rōmānus).

Regardless of design, there are no taps–these fountains provide a perpetually flowing source of clean, cold water drawn from the aqueducts, the same source that provides potable water to houses in Rome today. This constant stream helps prevent pressure build-up in the pipes while keeping the water from stagnating and breeding bacteria.

One of Rome’s many nicknames is ‘La Regina dell’Acqua’ which translates to the Queen of Water. Water is an integral feature of the city, from the many fountains and nasone in public squares to the innovations in transporting water with aqueducts and bathhouses that the Romans pioneered.

Rome was the first city in the world to introduce the idea of free, clean drinking water fountains. They were installed around the city in the late 19th century and today, Rome continues to have the highest concentration of water fountains with over 2,500 scattered across the city. Besides quenching the thirst of citizens and tourists alike, nasone also supply water to the local markets and urban gardens.

It is perfectly safe and even encouraged for people to drink water out of the nasoni as the water is drawn from the aqueducts, the same sources that provide potable water to houses throughout Rome all year round. You’ll save money and produce less waste by drinking from the nasoni instead of buying water in plastic bottles.

While you can drink out of the nasoni or drinking fountains (fontanella) quite safely, the water in decorative fountains (fontana) is often non-potable and may be treated chemically to protect the integrity of the fountain. So don’t go dipping your water bottle into the basin of the Trevi Fountain–there are nasoni on the sides of the fountain that are safe for drinking.

The easiest way to drink water from the nasoni is to fill up an empty water bottle, but if you’re just looking for a quick sip, all you need to do is block the water flow from the spout with your hand. This will cause the water to spurt out from a small hole on top of the spout so you can drink from it like a regular drinking fountain. Remember to rinse your hands before touching the spout.

With over 2,500 nasone scattered around the city, this interactive map of drinking fountains in Rome by Acea Group will make it easier to find one that's nearest to you. The Acea group is in charge of managing Rome’s water system and also produced the Waidy WOW app—which you can download on your smartphone. It not only shows you water locations but also highlights interesting water-related facts and sights in Rome.

In recent years, Acea has also installed ‘high tech nasone’ which they call Case dell’Acqua or Water Houses in select locations around Rome including the Colosseum. These Water Houses take the shape of small kiosks that can dispense both still and sparkling water, along with tourist information and a place to charge your phone and devices.

Here are some nasone to look out for while you’re exploring the Eternal City:

The boat-shaped Barcaccia Fountain at the base of the Spanish Steps is a rare decorative fountain that you can drink from. There’s even a special stepping stone to let people access the flowing water spouting from the end of the boat more easily.

Via della Cordonata is where you can find one of the oldest nasone in Rome dating back to 1872. What makes this nasoni special is that it has not one, not two, but three spouts creatively shaped like dragon heads.

The Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located is home to another of Rome’s older fountains with three spouts. This one is easy to spot: on the ground right in front of the Fontana del Pantheon.

The last of the three-headed nasone is located on Via di San Teodoro behind the Roman Forum and is the most intact in its original form.

Located on Aventine Hill, the nasoni in Parco Savello is made out of travertine marble instead of the usual cast-iron structure, and the spout features the head of the she-wolf, one of the major symbols representing Rome.