Onofrie's fountain , Dubrovnik, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Onofrio's Fountain is a large 15th-century public fountain just inside the Pile Gate end of the Stradun in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Built in 1438 to mark the arrival of running water in the old city, it is both a beautiful piece of engineering and a handy place to refill a bottle on a hot day.

The story behind it

Like many medieval towns, Dubrovnik struggled to supply its people with fresh water. The city called in the Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cava, who designed an aqueduct bringing spring water to town from about 12 km away. The fountain, finished in 1438, was the grand public endpoint of that system. Its water still comes this way today, though through modern pipes rather than the original ones.

The fountain once had a more elaborate dome. It was damaged in the earthquake of 1667, and later repairs never restored its original form, which is why it looks simpler than it once did. Beside it stands the Church of the Holy Saviour, completed in 1528. The square also appears in local literary tradition: the Renaissance playwright Marin Držić set a comic tale about a villager named Stanac in this part of town.

What to look for

• Sixteen carved stone masks, known as mascarons, are arranged around the fountain, and water pours from them.
• The domed top is plainer than the original design, and it carries the marks of the 1667 earthquake and the repairs that followed.
• The Church of the Holy Saviour sits right beside the fountain, and its Renaissance facade is worth a close look.
• Its smaller sibling, the Little Onofrio Fountain, stands at the far end of the Stradun, so you can compare the two.

Tips for your visit

• Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty here, but you will probably pass it on the way in or out of the old town, so combine it with a stroll along the Stradun.
• The fountain is outdoors and free to see at any time. The water is drinkable, so bring a bottle.
• Come early in the morning or in the evening, when the crowds coming through the Pile Gate thin out and the stone looks its best.
• The Church of the Holy Saviour is next door, and the city walls can be reached from nearby. Check current opening hours for both.

See it on a quest

In Medieval Dubrovnik: Time Travel Adventure, you walk to the fountain as one stop on a longer route through the old town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.

If you prefer a screen-inspired theme, Dubrovnik - Game of Thrones also passes this part of the city. You reach the fountain on foot, hear about it on the spot and solve a puzzle there. One ticket covers the whole group, and there is no guide to wait for.