The Fountain of Neptune () is a monumental fountain, located in Municipio square, in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, Italy. The fountain until the end of 2014 was located across the street of via Medina across from the church of

Santa Maria Incoronata, Naples Santa Maria dell'Incoronata is an ancient church on Via Medina in Naples, Italy. It is located just south of San Giorgio dei Genovesi and across the street from the Church of Pietà dei Turchini. The church was built in the 14th century in ...

and a few doors south of the church complex of Pieta di Turchini. Now the fountain is located in front of the Town hill building, its location changed due to the construction of the new underground station (Municipio Station - Line 1).

History

Its construction dates back to the period of Spanish Viceroyalty of Enrique de Guzman, Count of Olivares. It was built by

Giovanni Domenico D'Auria Domenico Auria (active 16th century) was an Italian architect and sculptor of the Renaissance period, active in Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and ...

using a design by the Swiss architect

Domenico Fontana Domenico Fontana (154328 June 1607) was an Italian"Domenico Fontana."
''

Michelangelo Naccherino,

Pietro Bernini Pietro Bernini (6 May 1562 – 29 August 1629) was an Italian sculptor. He was the father of one of the most famous artists of Baroque, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, as well as the sculptor-architect Luigi Bernini. Biography Bernini was born in Sesto ...

, and

Cosimo Fanzago Cosimo Fanzago (Clusone, 12 October 1591 – Napoli, 13 February 1678) was an Italian architect and sculptor, generally considered the greatest such artist of the Baroque period in Naples, Italy. Biography Early life and education Fanzago was ...

. The fountain originally stood near the Arsenal in the port. In 1629, it was transported to Largo di Palazzo (now Piazza del Plebiscito), near the

Royal Palace of Naples The Royal Palace of Naples () is a historic building located in Piazza del Plebiscito, in the historic center of Naples, Italy. Although the main entrance is located in this square, there are other accesses to the complex, which also includes th ...

, but since it hindered the festivals held in the plaza there, the fountain was again moved to Borgo Santa Lucia, near

Castel dell'Ovo Castel dell'Ovo ("Egg Castle") is a seafront castle in Naples, located on the former island of Megaride, now a peninsula, on the Gulf of Naples in Italy. The castle's name comes from a legend about the Roman Republic, Roman poet Virgil, who had a ...

. There, more statues, these by Fanzago were added. In 1638, it was again moved, this time to Largo delle Corregge, today Via Medina. During the revolt of

Masaniello Tommaso Aniello (29 June 1620 – 16 July 1647), popularly known by the contracted name Masaniello (, ), was an Italian fisherman who became leader of the 1647 revolt against the rule of Habsburg Spain in the Kingdom of Naples. Name and place ...

in 1647, the statue was damaged. Further damage occurred during the sacking of Naples in 1672 by the Viceroy Pedro Antonio de Aragón. In 1675, it underwent restoration and was moved to the Molo Grande. This migratory fountain has continued to move through Naples: in 1886, it was dismantled, to reappear two years later in the Piazza Plaza della Borsa (now Plaza Giovanni Bovio), where it stood till 2000, when it was returned to Via Medina to allow for work on the Naples Metro.

Description

The fountain is circular and surrounded by a balustrade. Water flows from four lions who hold shields with the symbols of Medina y de Carafa. Two sea monsters pour water in the central shell, adorned with dolphins and Tritons that also emit water; this was carved by

. In the center, on a rock, two nymphs and two satyrs hold up a saucer that features a statue of

Neptune Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun. It is the List of Solar System objects by size, fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 t ...

with trident; this portion was sculpted by Naccherino.

Chronology of displacements

* 1595–1599: harbour's arsenal * 1628: Largo di Palazzo ( Piazza Plebiscito) * 1634: Borgo Santa Lucia * 1639: Via Medina * 1675: Molo Grande * 1898: Piazza Borsa ( Piazza Giovanni Bovio) * 2001: Via Medina * 2015: Piazza Municipio

Bibliography

*G. Alisio, ''Napoli e il Risanamento'', Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, 1980. *''Le strade di Napoli'', Vol. 4°, Periodici Locali Newton, 1992. *Aurelio De Rose, ''Le fontane di Napoli'', Roma, Newton & Compton, 1994.

References

Neptune, Naples Fountains of Neptune Sculptures of lions in Italy Sculptures of dolphins Animal sculptures in Italy {{Italy-struct-stub