Free Drinks from La Regina dell'Acqua (aka Rome)

As the adults enjoy wine tasting from quartiere to quartiere, here are the drinking fountains located near some of Rome's most famed sites. Can't miss fountains, if you will. Read, the perfect challenge for your kids to discover and one that may help fend off any sightseeing boredom. I've included some restaurant and bar suggestions along the way because water may not cut it.

The Roman Forum - Behind the Forum and between it and the Circus Maximus, on Via di San Teodoro, sits the most intact of three remaining three-dragon head spout fountains. Over the years, the city re-outfitted the fountains to have only one curved spout, hence the name "nasoni," meaning "big nose" and did away with the three-spout design. A water fountain that is definitely worth checking considering it dates to the late 1800's!

Pantheon - In the Piazza della Rotonda, right in front of the Fontana del Pantheon, sits the second of the remaining three-spout fountains. It was recently refurbished - can you tell it had work done? The kids enjoyed the fountain and then we enjoyed a cocktail atop the tucked-away Singer Hotel's rooftop bar, Rooftop Jim's Bar. I highly recommend this lesser-known gem; fabulous drinks, a great view of city center rooftops and a super friendly hotel and bar staff.

You can walk from the Pantheon through the Sant'Eustachio district and near the Piazza Navonna you will see one of Rome's more elaborate drinking fountains - the Fountain of the Books ("Fontana dei Libre"). Designed by the artist Pietro Lombardi in the late 1920's, the fountain is one of nine district fountains sited across Rome's seven main districts. My teenage twins enjoyed this fountain, not because of its more interesting design or its symbolizing knowledge and education, but because ... it has two spouts.

The exceptionally unique La Barcaccia Fountain ("Fountain of the Leaky Boat") in the center of Piazza di Spagne at the bottom of the Spanish Steps is not about to be outdone by the surrounding haute couture boutiques. Shaped like a boat to remember the great flood of the Tiber River in 1598, there is even a stone to help people reach the spout at the boat's end. Kids (of all ages) who race on the steps appreciate this fountain immensely, trust me.

Of course, there is a notable (and potable!) drinking fountain outside the Vatican and it's right inside St. Peter's Square. We only saw it from a distance due to the crowds but made do with having a terrific lunch at La Locanda di Pietro on Via Sebastiano Veniero. Get the pizza!

Last but certainly not least there is, of course, a drinking fountain by the Trevi Fountain, and please... it is NOT the Fountain itself. There is a two-spouted nasoni to the right of the Fountain, called the "Fontanina degli Innamorati or “Lovers’ Fountain” and that is where you can drink, either solo or with your special someone. Drink together from the crossing water streams and you will be together, forever! This fountain is more for adults.

Our favorite fountain of all was near the Trevi Fountain, but it wasn't the Lover's Fountain - it was a nasoni tucked away next to a bench just outside a fabulous little restaurant, a gem among the Trevi Fountain craze, Il Chianti Osteria Toscana. We struck up a conversation with two locals - a lady and her older mother - who took great interest and delight in watching our twins negotiate drinking from the nasoni. It was definitely a trip highlight. I'd be remiss if I didn't emphasize Il Chianti Osteria. Go see them, order il Tagliere del Chianti, meet Paola and tell her to pick your wine for you. But don't leave without having a free drink by the bench just outside to the left.