The Big Onofrio Fountain
Part of the Renaissance comedy “Novela od Stanca” (The Story of Stanac) by Dubrovnik playwright Marin Držić takes place right at this fountain.
The Big Onofrio Fountain, located next to the Pile Gate at the western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, is one of the key landmarks in the city’s civic and urban history.
It was built in 1438 as the terminus of an advanced aqueduct system that brought drinking water from the Šumet spring, twelve kilometers away.
Led by Neapolitan engineer Onofrio della Cava, this project solved the city’s longstanding water supply issues. As part of the same project, the Small Onofrio Fountain was built at the eastern end of the main street, Stradun. Several other smaller fountains were also constructed throughout the city.
Construction of the Aqueduct
On June 2, 1436, the Major Council of the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) made the decision to build the Dubrovnik aqueduct. Italian builders Onofrio della Cava and Andreucius de Tramonete de Bulbito were hired for the job. Their task was to bring fresh drinking water from the Šumet spring—12 km from the city—into the city center to ease the daily lives of its citizens. At the time, an engineering feat of this scale was unheard of in Europe.
The Šumet spring sits at an elevation of 109 meters above sea level and provided 70 liters of water per second. Flowing down a 0.6% gradient along the lower slopes of Mount Srđ, the water traversed an 11,700-meter route to reach what is today Dubrovnik’s historic core.
Design of the Fountain
The fountain was designed as a massive 16-sided structure topped with a dome. Its outer panels are decorated with stone mascarons—carved relief faces—from whose 16 spouts drinking water still flows today.
Although it was originally richly decorated, much of its ornamentation was lost during the catastrophic earthquake of 1667, though the core structure survived.
The surviving elements clearly reflect the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style, seamlessly blending technical engineering with artistic design.
During the era of the Dubrovnik Republic, the fountain served as the main water supply and a hub for daily public gatherings. Part of the Renaissance comedy Novela od Stanca by Dubrovnik playwright Marin Držić is set at the fountain.
Today, it remains a major landmark marking the start of Stradun, the city’s main street, where locals and tourists alike gather to relax and refresh.
You can see what the inside of the Big Onofrio Fountain looks like in an article by Dubrovački vjesnik.
Nearby Attractions
- City Walls (western entrance)
- Pile Gate
- Stradun (Placa)
- Franciscan Monastery and Old Pharmacy
- St. Savior’s Church (Crkva sv. Spasa)
Location
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a stunning coastal city in southern Croatia, known for its beautiful architecture and rich history. The city’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its impressive walls, cobblestone streets, and Baroque buildings.
ExploreGothic
Gothic appeared relatively late in Croatia. In addition to the 13th and 14th centuries, as long as it lasted in Europe, its influence is also visible in the 15th and 16th centuries – for example, on the Trogir and Sibenik cathedrals. Also on the territory of Croatia, you can often see admixtures of Romanesque and Renaissance in Gothic buildings. Gothic influence from European countries adapted to its possibilities and needs and thus created a “domestic artistic expression”. This mixture of styles is most pronounced in Dalmatia. The northern regions were exposed to the influences of Central Europe, while the coastal regions tied their artistic expression to Italian models.
ExploreRenaissance
In the 15th century, Croatia was divided between three states – northern Croatia was a part of the Austrian Empire, Dalmatia was under the rule of the Venetian Republic (with the exception of Dubrovnik), and Slavonia was under Ottoman occupation. Dalmatia was on the periphery of several influences, equidistant from Italy, Ottoman Bosnia, and Austria, so it drew influence from all. In those circumstances in Dalmatia flourished religious and public architecture with clear influences of the Italian Renaissance, but still original.
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