Fontana delle Tette is one of the most unusual public monuments in Treviso. The fountain is located in the historic center, close to Piazza dei Signori, Calmaggiore, and Calle del Podestà, in one of the most visited areas of the city. The name is usually translated into English as the Fountain of Tits or Fountain of Breasts. The monument depicts a bare-breasted female figure whose breasts release water into a basin. Its appearance is striking, but its historical meaning is linked to civic celebration, Venetian rule, and public ritual. The fountain visible today in the courtyard of Palazzo Zignoli is not the original sixteenth-century sculpture. It is a 1989 reconstruction of the historic fountain, created to bring back into public view one of Treviso’s best-known civic symbols. The authentic sculpture is kept under the portico of Palazzo dei Trecento, one of the most important medieval buildings in Treviso. Short History of Fontana delle Tette Origins Under Venetian Rule The history of Fontana delle Tette begins in 1559, when Treviso was under the control of the Republic of Venice. At that time, the city was governed through Venetian institutions, including the office of the podestà, the official who represented Read more [...]