In the quiet, early hours of Sunday, Dubrovnik awoke to the news that one of its most treasured historic landmarks — the Small Onofrio Fountain — had been damaged.
Police in Dubrovnik-Neretva County confirmed a criminal investigation is underway after a section of the stone bench at the fountain’s edge was broken off.
The fountain, a UNESCO-protected cultural monument, was built in the mid-15th century by Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cava, the mastermind behind the city’s water system and the more famous Large Onofrio Fountain.
Its delicate sculptural details were crafted by Milanese sculptor Pietro di Martino.
Nestled in a niche against the wall of the Main Guardhouse, the fountain had only recently undergone restoration earlier this year — making the damage a particularly bitter blow.
For now, police are conducting an on-site inspection and liaising with the Ministry of Culture’s conservation office, while locals hope this symbol of Dubrovnik’s history can be swiftly and sensitively repaired.
