Fonte Magna

At the foot of the Osimo hill, just outside the ancient city walls, stands the majestic Fonte Magna, one of the best-preserved Roman nymphaea in the Marche region. Tradition, steeped in allure, binds this monument inseparably to Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. It is said that the famed Roman commander, in the 1st century BC, chose Osimo (Auximum) as a stronghold during the civil war against Julius Caesar and watered his horses at this very spring, from which the epithet “Magna” would derive.

More than a simple spring, the structure was a true monumental nymphaeum—a sacred place dedicated to the nymphs—designed to astonish anyone arriving in the city. Its imposing architecture, with niches that once housed statues, perhaps including one of Pompey himself, served to celebrate the power of Rome and the importance of Auximum as a thriving colony. It functioned as a theatrical point of welcome, providing water and refreshment to travelers before they crossed the city gates.

Today, Fonte Magna stands as one of the most significant testimonies of Osimo’s Roman past. Strolling among its remains offers a plunge into history, conjuring the bustle of soldiers, merchants, and citizens who frequented this place for centuries. Its sturdy construction and its strategic position along an important thoroughfare make it an archaeological site of great value—an essential stop for understanding the grandeur of ancient Auximum.