Lake Piazza Navona in Rome, nineteenth century

From 1652 Pope Innocent X inaugurated the tradition, which was carried on until 1865 albeit in a discontinuous way, of closing the fountains of Piazza Navona every Saturday and Sunday in August, so as to let the water overflow into the square and create a sort of lake. All this represented for the Romans a source of fun and a way to refresh themselves in the summer culture.