Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

AS Roma chairman to restore Pantheon fountain

Pallotta makes €230,000 donation after jumping into Rome fountain.

AS Roma chairman James Pallotta is donating €230,000 to the city for the restoration of the Pantheon fountain after being filmed jumping into the Fontana dei Leoni in Piazza del Popolo on 10 April.
Rome mayor Virginia Raggi thanked Pallotta for his "extremely generous gesture" and accepted that his fountain plunge was done in the "heat of the moment" while celebrating his football club's historic defeat of Barcelona.
Before his offer to the city, consumer group Codacons pointed out that jumping into Rome's fountains carries a €450 fine and that Pallotta was setting a "terrible example to millions of young people."
The morning after Pallotta's backflip into the Piazza del Popolo fountain - which was restored two years ago - the billionaire Italian-American businessman called Raggi to apologise, assuring her that he would pay the fine. However during a meeting with the mayor later that afternoon he announced his surprise donation for the restoration of the Fontana del Pantheon. Commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII, the fountain was designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575 and sculpted in marble by Leonardo Sormani. In 1711 an Egyptian obelisk was added on the orders of Pope Clement XI whose Albani family crest was also incorporated into the structure.
Pallotta had joined euphoric AS Roma fans on Monday night after his club ousted Barcelona to progress to the Champions League semi-finals in one of the biggest surprise comebacks in the history of Europe's premier club competition.Photo La Gazzetta
Castelli H2 - 724 x 450
RIS H3 1920x190
RIS H3 1920x190
RIS H3 1920x190
Acorn P H3 - 320 x 480
RIS  H5 1400x360