Fontana delle Tartarughe

Built in the late 16th century in the heart of what is now the Jewish Ghetto, the Fountain of the Turtles originally featured youths reaching up toward dolphins; the bronze turtles perched at the fountain's rim, now its most charming detail, were added roughly a century later, possibly by Bernini. Its scale is modest compared to Rome's grander fountains, but the intimacy of the surrounding Piazza Mattei and the fountain's elegant proportions have made it a favorite among Romans rather than just tourists.

Local legend holds that a duke had it built overnight to prove his family's wealth to a prospective father-in-law. It's a quiet, charming stop for anyone exploring the Ghetto.