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

Adjacent to the historic King Enzo Palace ("Palazzo Re Enzo"), in the lively square bearing his name, proudly stands the Fountain of Neptune ("Fontana del Nettuno"), a masterpiece crafted by Giambologna in 1556. Born Jean Boulogne in Flanders, this sculptor found his creative groove in Florence; however, it was his aquatic masterpiece in Bologna that truly made waves.

At the heart of the fountain reigns a colossal Neptune (dubbed 'Il Gigante'), flanked by cherubs and four luscious sirens astride dolphins, playfully spouting water from, shall we say, unconventional sources. Initially causing quite the stir with its unabashed nudity, the statue eventually won over censorship, becoming a symbol of irreverence cherished by the locals who revel in uncovering the most strategic vantage points to admire Neptune's, ahem, commanding presence.

To accommodate the fountain, an entire city block was razed, making space for its imposing presence. Its base is covered with Verona marble, while each dolphin symbolizes prominent rivers of the era: the Ganges, Nile, Amazon, and Danube, while Neptune, in all his grandeur, reigns over the seas, symbolizing the Pope's dominion over Bologna and beyond.