Fountain of the Giant, Naples

The Fountain of the Giant is a monumental Renaissance fountain located along the Naples waterfront, near the Castle of the Egg. It was commissioned by the Spanish viceroy Antonio de Toledo and crafted in the 17th century. The fountain was originally erected beside the Royal Palace of Naples in what is now Plebiscite Square. It took its name from a colossal ancient statue nearby — called “the Giant” — which was assembled around a Roman bust of Jupiter and stood near the fountain in the square, a pairing that appears in historic paintings of the city.

Over the centuries, the fountain led a peripatetic life, being dismantled, stored, and relocated multiple times. After its original site was reshaped in the early 19th century and the statue removed, the fountain was moved in the late 19th century to the Immacolatella Palace, and later to a park and other temporary settings, before finding its current picturesque home along the seafront, near Castle of the Egg, in the early 20th century.

Visually, the fountain’s three elegant arches are richly decorated with heraldic symbols, marine creatures, and river deities, and flanked by caryatid figures holding cornucopias — details that showcase the Mannerist style and the Baroque artistic tradition of early modern Naples.

Set against the backdrop of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, it offers not only a moment of architectural beauty but also a strong photographic focal point and a peaceful pause during a stroll along the sea.