Big Onofrije's Fountain, Dubrovnik

The Onofrio fountain was constructed in the 15th Century as part of the water supply system. The fountain is named after the 15th Century engineer, Onofrio de la Cava. With its sixteen sided drinking fountain points it served the public drinking water for a number of centuries and even during the Balkans War in the early 1990s.

It's not just called big because it's big, but to differentiate it from the smaller Onofrio's fountain nearby. This giant fountain is part of a 15th century engineering marvel that drew water from a well 20km away and piped it into the old town. Today you'll find it marking the main entrance to the old town, and the beginning of the Stradun.

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Strategically located, this fountain from the 15th century, is visited by everybody, either to drink its cool water, either to wash face and hands.

Sixteen fountains always pouring water brought from a well 20 km distant, welcome the visitors, and make this the most visited monument in Dubrovnik

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It was designed by Onofrio Giordina in 1438. It was damaged in 1667 eathquake, but reworked. The fountain still is in use today, and you can drink the water (they say it is okay). There are 16 fountains with carved masks over them, but I only saw two working when we were there. The spring feeding the fountain is 6 miles away, and during latest siege, only the Dominican church well provided water

After entering through Pile Gate this is one of the first monuments you come across. Built in the 15th century but heavily damaged in the 1667 earthquake, the fountain is a great place to sit & relax. 16 carved masks with water jets gushing from their mouths into a drainage pool remain.

The Big Onforio's Fountain is most likely the first monument you'll see once entering the old town. It stands right in front of the Pile Gate. It's a polygon shaped fountain with 16 garved heads, built in 1438.

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Now there are two Onofrios fountains; the big one pictured here and the smaller one @ Luza just below the Bell Tower. These were public access points for the medieval aqueductal spring derived water system designed to supply water to ancient Dubrovnik. The spring itself is 12km away and via covered aqueducts and water mills the H2O reaches the town. These are reminiscent of the karez water systems I saw in western China devised by the Uighurs to supply water from the mountain-snowmelt to the dry plains below, except here its an underground spring..probably fed by snowmelt from the surrounding Dalmatian ranges
Around the fountain is a cosy lively piazza, where ballads, cafes and the imposing Franciscan monastery can be found near the city gate. Here to is a great landmark for the beginning of the Stradun and its delights.

Very near to Franciscan Monastery on the western side of the old town is Onofrio’s Large Fountain, was build in 1440. In the 1667 earthquake, it lost original functionality, although clear river water still flows from the 16 fountains today. The well is situated 20 km far from this place and the work is outstanding