Rome switches water back on at Fontana delle Naiadi.

The Fountain of the Naiads in Rome's Piazza della Repubblica is back in action following a lengthy procedure to fix an "infiltration problem" after its waters began seeping into the Repubblica metro station below almost a year ago.

The fountain, considered one of Rome's finest examples of Art Nouveau or the so-called "Liberty" style, dates to 1885. The monument's Naiads or "Najadi" sculptures were completed in 1897 by Sicilian artist Mario Rutelli, the great-grandfather of former Rome mayor Francesco Rutelli. 

The figures represent the nymphs of the lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater, while in 1913 Rutelli added the sea-god Glaucus with a dolphin from whose mouth gushes the fountain's central water jet.

When Rutelli's work was first unveiled, the nude figures caused a controversy among conservatives who declared them to be overtly erotic and immoral, however the city council ignored calls to remove the nymphs which were allegedly much admired by crowds of young Roman men.

The fountain was originally surrounded by a protective fence but this was removed by the city in 1901.

Photo LaPresse