Fontana di Orione

The Fountain of Orion is a monumental Renaissance fountain located in Piazza Duomo in Messina, created in the 16th century by sculptor Montorsoli.

Fontana di Orione is one of the masterpieces of Italian Renaissance sculpture and one of the most iconic landmarks of Messina. It was built in 1553 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a pupil of Michelangelo.

The fountain was commissioned by the Senate of Messina to celebrate the construction of the city’s first aqueduct, which brought water from the Camaro and Bordonaro streams. Its design is pyramidal and richly decorated across multiple levels.

At the top stands the mythological figure of Orion, traditionally regarded as the legendary founder of Messina, accompanied by his dog Sirius. Below him are layered basins supported by tritons, nymphs, and cherubs, along with allegorical figures of the rivers Nile, Tiber, Ebro, and Camaro. The entire structure is adorned with mythological reliefs symbolizing water, nature, and the city’s identity