Fountain of Neptune

The Neptune Fountain is a monumental Renaissance fountain in Messina, created in 1557 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli. It depicts Neptune, the god of the sea, dominating the mythological figures of Scylla and Charybdis, symbols of the Strait of Messina

The Neptune Fountain is one of the most important Renaissance monuments in Messina and the second major fountain created by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a pupil of Michelangelo, following the famous Fountain of Orion. It was completed in 1557 after being commissioned by the city's Senate.

Originally positioned along the harbour waterfront facing the city, the fountain was relocated in 1934 to its current location in Piazza Unità d'Italia and turned towards the sea.

At the centre stands Neptune holding his trident, while beneath him are Scylla and Charybdis, the legendary sea monsters associated with the Strait of Messina. The monument is widely interpreted as an allegory of strength and the ability to overcome the dangers of the sea.

The fountain is richly decorated with sea horses, dolphins, shells, coats of arms and sculpted reliefs. The original statues of Neptune and Scylla are now preserved in the Regional Museum of Messina, while the figures currently displayed on the fountain are nineteenth-century copies created by Gregorio Zappalà and Letterio Subba