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

The Fountain of Neptune, one of Messina’s most striking monuments, was the second fountain commissioned from the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a close collaborator of Michelangelo, following the success of his Fountain of Orion.

Originally completed in 1557, the fountain was first installed near the Town Hall, facing away from the sea—a deliberate design choice symbolizing Neptune offering the bounty of the sea to the city. However, its central figures, including the statue of Neptune himself and one of the monstrous sea creatures, are now preserved in the Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare for protection, with copies replacing them in the fountain.

Unlike the Fountain of Orion, which suffered severe damage in the 1908 earthquake, the Fountain of Neptune remained largely intact. Over the centuries, it witnessed several modifications. In 1757, a statue of Charles III of Bourbon was placed beside it, followed by a statue of Francis I in 1832, both created by renowned local sculptors. However, these bronze sculptures met a dramatic fate—they were melted down in 1848 during the revolution to manufacture projectiles.

In 1934, the fountain was relocated to its current position, by order of Prefect Michele Adinolfi, who sought to enhance the square in front of the Prefecture building. During the move, it was rotated 180 degrees so that Neptune now faces the sea, a reversal of its original orientation.