Even in the age of impressive technological wonders, there’s still nothing quite as majestic as beautiful fountains. If you think back to your favorite movies, artful water features have served as the backdrop of some of cinema’s most iconic moments—from Anita Ekberg jumping in the Trevi Fountain in La Dolce Vita to the Ocean’s 11 crew standing in front of the Bellagio fountains—and they’re as inspiring in real life as they are on the big screen. Today public fountains serve as communal art pieces, such as the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris or the Crown Fountain in Chicago; architectural marvels, including the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on the Banpo Bridge in South Korea or the Swarovski Fountain in Austria; or beloved spots to cool down on a summer day, like the Julia Penrose Fountain in Colorado. Some of the world’s most beautiful fountains also come with architectural pedigrees, including designs by artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi and French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. We’ve gathered some of the most awe-inspiring—and sometimes record making—beautiful fountains from around the world, all of which enhance their respective cities and have made their mark on the landscape.
