The Frog Fountain (in German Froschbrunnen) is a monumental fountain in Bolzano, set in front of the railway station.
What to see
Characteristic bronze frogs, which give the fountain its name, spray long jets of water towards a large central basin, in stone and marble like the main pool; the basin is topped by amphorae, also of bronze, from which further jets rise. The main pool is decorated with garlands and the city's coat of arms.
The original design is by the sculptor Ignaz Gabloner, and the fountain was placed in 1930 in front of the station, where until the 1920s the toll house, built in 1874, had stood. It was heavily damaged by the bombings of the Second World War and rebuilt after the war according to the original design, apart from some small changes. In 2014 it was switched off because of problems with the electrical system and soon fell into a state of decay; only in the summer of 2017 was the fountain restored and switched on again.
Visiting
The fountain is in the square in front of Bolzano station and can be seen from outside at any time; the times when the jets run are not given by the sources consulted, so they should be checked.
Our editors' tip
If you arrive by train, stop to look at it as you leave the station: the bronze frogs aim their jets towards the central basin, which holds the amphorae with the other spouts.
