Fontana di Saturno

The fountain stands beside the Church of Sant'Agostino in the historic centre of Trapani. According to the historian Giuseppe Maria Di Ferro, the site originally contained a small basin supplied by a local spring before it was redeveloped in 1342 under the patronage of the Chiaramonte family. As part of the newly constructed Acquedotto chiaramontano, the fountain became one of the principal public outlets for fresh drinking water brought from the slopes of Monte San Giuliano (modern Monte Erice). The original fountain consisted of a triple marble basin surmounted by a larger upper bowl and was crowned by a statue of the Roman god Saturn, traditionally associated in local legend with the mythical foundation of Trapani.

Following the deterioration of the medieval structure, the Senate of Trapani financed a major reconstruction in 1603. The basin and masonry were repaired, the retaining wall was waterproofed, and additional conduits were constructed to supply water to the nearby Serraglio Sant'Agostino. The fountain remained an important part of the city's water supply as the aqueduct carried water through a network of underground terracotta channels, masonry canals, arches and public fountains before entering Trapani.

The historic aqueduct system continued to supply several public fountains until it was gradually superseded by newer municipal waterworks during the late 19th century. Although much of the network has disappeared, surviving sections on Monte Erice preserve part of the engineering that once brought fresh water to the Fontana di Saturno, linking the fountain to one of the most significant public infrastructure projects in medieval Trapani.