Fontana Dei Matti

Fontana Dei Matti:

Fontana Dei Matti

Fountain where visitors can earn a license to be mad

This 16th century fountain, known as the "Fountain of the Madmen," is situated in the Italian town of Gubbio, a small medieval city commonly inhabited by bizarre people - at least as considered by outsiders and tourists - who prescribe to different cultures present in the Umbria region. Properly named the Fontana del Bargello after the palace it stands in front of, the fountain resides in the old town's center. In the center, it serves as a sort of hub to the city, with residents and tourists alike always flocking to the fountain, where, according to tradition, visitors can gain a license of "matto di Gubbio" (literally, madman of Gubbio) by being baptized with its waters after making three turns around the fountain. This ritual, though, must be performed with the assistance of a native citizen and, moreover, a real certificate that states the gained lunacy along with an honorary citizenship can be purchased nearby. The fountain might not be as ridiculous as it first sounds. Geologic studies of peculiar rock formations that surround the city of Gubbio show that the area has long been contaminated by highly toxic iridium, a chemical that could explain the eccentric residents of the area and their strange traditions.

Read more about Fontana Dei Matti on Atlas Obscura...

Category: Unusual Monuments, Peculiar Fountains, Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals Location: Gubbio, Italy Edited by: emanuelemannocci, Nicholas Jackson, Dylan