It’s no secret that we love water fountains here at Fountain Store. There’s something about the coming together of intricate, static stone and the soft yet still structured flow of water that perfectly encapsulates the relationship between the man-made and natural world.
This unique quality is also what makes fountains and water features a fantastic addition to your garden space. Not only is your garden composed of natural plant life that grows from the earth, but they are also typically immaculately designed and curated – especially here in Australia, the land of creative landscapers.
But the majesty of water fountains isn’t something that’s just appreciated by us Aussies. In fact, there are breathtaking water fountains all over the world, some of which you may have travelled tens of thousands of kilometres to see yourself.
So where can the world’s most famous fountains be found? We’ve listed our top 10 internationally renowned and famous fountains below for all you fountain heads out there.
Read on to map out your own architectural pilgrimage.
- Trevi Fountain - Rome, Italy
- Bellagio Fountains - Las Vegas, USA
- Fountain of Wealth - Suntec City, Singapore
- The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - Barcelona, Spain
- The Fountain of Neptune - Florence, Italy
- The Fountains of Versailles - Versailles, France
- The Dubai Fountain - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- The Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain - Xi'an, China
- The Fountain of Four Rivers - Rome, Italy
- The Jet d'Eau - Geneva, Switzerland
Each of these fountains has its own unique style, design, and history, and they continue to attract visitors from around the world.
1. Trevi Fountain - Rome, Italy
Arguably the most famous fountain in the world, Rome’s Trevi Fountain is renowned for its intricate depiction of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. This 18th century fountain features Neptune standing on a shell-shaped chariot that’s being pulled by two different horses: one calm and one energetic, to represent the temperamentality of the ocean itself.
In this way, the Trevi Fountain could be called a piece of art that pays homage to the natural world and all the elements that govern it. If you’re a fan of the Trevi Fountain, you may like some of the items in our nature-inspired decor collection.
2. Bellagio Fountains - Las Vegas, USA
The Fountains of Bellagio are both a famous fountain as well as an event, mainly because the audio speakers, 1214 nozzles and 4792 lights that were used to design this fountain power up for a special water show every 15-30 minutes, depending on the time of day. These fountains also shoot as high as 460 feet into the air, making the sheer verticality of the jetted water a sight to behold in and of itself.
The Bellagio Fountains are, in short, a testament to human engineering and our ever-present desire to defy gravity and all the other laws of physics wherever we can, and however we can. If the vertical movement of water is something you’d like to add to your own garden space, you may find a few water features that pique your interest in our collection of multi-drop water fountains.
3. Fountain of Wealth - Suntec City, Singapore
Located in Suntec City, one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls, the Fountain of Wealth is visited by hundreds if not thousands of tourists and locals every day, making it one of the most frequently visited and famous fountains on this entire list. This is also the largest fountain, not only on this list but also on Earth! As the Fountain of Wealth occupies an area of just under 1700 square metres and stands at 13.8 metres tall, the Guinness World Records officially named it the world’s largest fountain in 1998, and it’s held that title ever since.
Unlike other fountains, this ring-shaped water feature has an inward flow of water rather than a traditionally outward arcing flow. The inward flow is supposed to represent positive qi (or energy) entering Singapore and Suntec City rather than leaving the area. The fountain’s bronze ring design was also inspired by the Hindu Mandala symbol, which represents the oneness of the universe.
If you love the spiritual meaning behind this qi-enriched water fountain, you may just fall in love with some of our Buddha water features here at Fountain Store.
4. The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - Barcelona, Spain
Like some of the other fountains on this list, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc offers its visitors a special water show that also includes lights and music. But is it actually magical? Well, if you witness its awesome feats of water aerobics for yourself, you can expect to find yourself spellbound indeed!
With its 3620 jets and 4760 lights, the Montjuïc Magic Fountain is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions, with its daily evening water shows attracting thousands of visitors every week. If you’re looking to check out this awe-inspiring fountain for yourself, we recommend arriving just on the cusp of sunset to catch a light show and witness the fountain’s magic in full effect.
For those looking to inject a little Spanish-inspired decor in their own garden and outdoor entertainment spaces, why not explore our collection of Andalusian Moorish art?5. The Fountain of Neptune - Florence, Italy
Italy sure does love fountains and are known for their famous fountains that honour Neptune. Sadly, the Fountain of Neptune located in Florence doesn’t get half as much love as Rome’s own Fontana di Trevi. But considering just how much older The Fountain of Neptune is, history buffs will be sure to find themselves in awe of the intricate carvings and striking styling of this lesser known homage to the god of the sea.
Designed by architect Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1565, the Fountain of Neptune was originally commissioned by a member of the noble Medici family, making this fountain a piece of Italian aristocratic history. Made predominantly of marble and bronze and fantastically preserved, this near-500 year-old fountain is a must-see for any Italian art history buffs.
6. The Fountains of Versailles - Versailles, France
The dreamy gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France are likely to be a great source of inspiration for many of us avid garden designers today. There was just something ethereal and yet simultaneously beautiful and organic about the wide, far-reaching green lawns and stoic fountains that decorated the palace’s lush grounds. And with some many waterfalls, lakes and other water features to take in all over the Palace gardens, a trip to Versailles is simply a must for all fountain fanatics.
Fans of French architecture will be sure to love browsing through our collection of wall hanging water fountains here at Fountain Store.
7. The Dubai Fountain - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
When it comes to contemporary architectural marvels, Dubai is certainly a prominent destination in everyone’s minds. From its sweeping skyscrapers to the man-made design of the island itself, virtually every inch of this unique destination has been crafted by both man and nature combined. And its fountains are no exception here either.
A trip to Dubai would genuinely be incomplete without visiting the island’s breathtaking Dubai Fountain, which coincidentally was designed by the same team credited with the development of Las Vegas’ Bellagio Fountains! Located in the heart of the Burj Lake, the Dubai Fountain is a submerged structure that shoots water jets up into the air at miraculous heights, speeds, and shapes.
The fountain also offers a choreographed water show every 30 minutes. And the water show itself does include a selection of pop songs, ranging from Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ to some of your favourite kpop hits!
8. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain - Xi'an, China
This next unique musical fountain is located right by China’s Big Wild Goose Pagoda, hence its unusual name. The Buddhist pagoda itself was constructed in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. As for the famous fountain, it was a more recent addition to this historic site, and covers an area of around 15,000 square metres, making it the biggest musical fountain in eastern Asia.
The main piece of music you can expect to hear during this fountain’s water show is a water symphony from the Tang Dynasty, as the Pagoda and its grounds are preserved as a lasting relic from this era of Chinese history.
9. The Fountain of Four Rivers - Rome, Italy
Another fountain located in Rome and built with travertine stone (like the Trevi), the Fountain of Four Rivers depicts four Gods that were thought to govern the world’s great four rivers of the known world at the time of the fountain’s construction back in 1651. These four rivers were the Nile in Africa, the Danube River of eastern Europe, the Ganges of India, and the Río de la Plata of the Americas.
The Fountain of Four Rivers is still considered to be a representation of the cross sections between faith and science to this day, as it honours the pursuit of geography and discovery that brought Europe to the wider world. Any designers looking to add a touch of worldliness, discovery, and adventure to their own garden spaces should absolutely explore our selection of moroccan tile fountains.
10. The Jet d'Eau - Geneva, Switzerland
Last but certainly not least, Switzerland’s Jet d’Eau fountain literally translates to ‘water jet’, which can give you a taste of what you can expect from this aquatic marvel, to say the very least. Located on Geneva Lake, this epic water fountain is a surreal sight to behold, as it consists of a single highly powerful jet of water that reaches a height of about 140 metres.
Witnessing the Jet d’Eau can feel a lot like seeing a geyser in action rather than a man-made water fountain. It’s this innate organic quality that makes the Jet d’Eau one of the most underrated water fountains found in Europe. This is a must-see and truly a famous fountain, especially if you’re planning a trip to Switzerland anytime soon.
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Want to find a water feature or fountain that adds a sense of majesty to your garden that rivals any of these artistic feats of engineering? Browse through our collection at Fountain Store today, or contact us for more information on any of the garden decor items or water features that catch your eye.
