The Vicar's Fountain

The ancient Vicar's fountain, located in the center of Serina near the Vicar's palace along the Via Mercatorum, was built in 1581 at the behest of Vicar Francesco Gozzi. The water flows from a lion's head carved in the center, surrounded on three sides by floral motifs and, at the bottom, by a human face. The large basin below, carved from a single block of stone, is flanked by two marble pilasters both decorated with the vicar's coat of arms, depicting an olive branch accompanied by the motto “signum pacis.” The fountain is known today as the “Fountain of the Vicar,” a name derived from the dedication engraved on the lintel: Franciscus Gozius Vicarius MDLXXXI. Observing it carefully, one can guess that the elegant structure above the basin originally belonged to a fireplace that once heated the halls of the vicar's palace.