Fontana delle tartarughe

James Della Porta and Taddeo Landini 1581-1588

The Turtle Fountain It is one of the most graceful fountains in Rome, built to a design by Giacomo Della Porta and with bronze sculptures by Taddeo Landini.
The fountain is located in the small Mattei Square It is made up of four ephebes who push the turtles towards the upper basin to make them drink the fresh water of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct, now called Acqua Vergine.

According to a popular legend, Duke Mattei, whose palace overlooks the square where the fountain is located, organised a sumptuous all-night party to convince his future father-in-law who did not want to give him his daughter as a wife.
The next morning Mattei took his bride-to-be with her father to one of the windows of the palace to admire the work completed in a single night. The window was later bricked up so that no one could enjoy the same view again.
In reality, the Duke Mattei, who was indeed very influential, managed to have it built in the square in front of his palace, committing himself to paving the square and keeping the fountain clean at his own expense.

See a short video of the fountain: https://youtu.be/hCmrWCs3ZvQ