Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), Messina (must see)

The Fountain of Neptune is one of Messina’s finest Renaissance monuments and the second major fountain commissioned from Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, the Florentine sculptor and collaborator of Michelangelo, following the success of his Fountain of Orion. Completed in 1557, it originally stood near the Town Hall and Messina’s historic waterfront.

The composition centers on the imposing figure of Neptune, god of the sea, standing triumphantly above the mythological monsters Scylla and Charybdis. According to Greek mythology, these creatures inhabited opposite sides of the Strait of Messina, making its dangerous waters a legendary obstacle for sailors, most famously in Homer’s Odyssey. In Montorsoli’s composition, the monsters struggle beneath Neptune, transforming the fountain into an allegory of humanity’s mastery over the treacherous waters of the strait.

Originally, Neptune faced away from the sea, symbolically presenting its riches to the city. The scholar Francesco Maurolico, who also collaborated with Montorsoli on the Fountain of Orion, contributed Latin verses to the monument.

Unlike many of Messina’s monuments, the fountain survived the devastating 1908 earthquake largely intact. Its surroundings, however, changed considerably over the centuries. Statues of Charles III of Bourbon and Francis I were added nearby in 1757 and 1832, respectively, but both were melted down during the 1848 revolution to produce projectiles.

In 1934, the fountain was moved to its present location in front of the Prefecture building. During the relocation, it was rotated 180 degrees, so Neptune now faces the sea rather than the city.

Visitors should also note that some of the sculptures are copies. The original statues of Neptune and Scylla are preserved in Messina’s Regional Museum, where they are protected from further exposure to the elements.