Piazza della Repubblica & Fontana delle Naiadi (Republic Square & Fountain of the Naiads), Rome

Atop the Viminal Hill, the smallest among Rome's Seven Hills, lies the charming Republic Square. This semicircular piazza occupies the space that was once the exedra of the Baths of Diocletian, and the surrounding porticos were constructed between 1887 and 1898 by Gaetano Koch as a homage to the ancient structures that once adorned this site.

An exceptional attraction within the square is the St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, a church built inside the ruins of the frigidarium of the Roman Baths of Diocletian. Within this small basilica, visitors can discover a Meridian Line, commissioned by Pope Clement XI in 1702 and created by Francesco Bianchini. This line served as a means to verify the accuracy of the Gregorian Calendar and predict the exact dates of Easter for future centuries, as Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.

At the center of the square stands the captivating Fountain of the Naiads. The focal point of the fountain is Glaucus, a mortal fisherman transformed into a sea god, depicted wrestling a dolphin that spouts a powerful jet of water, symbolizing humanity's triumph over natural forces. Surrounding Glaucus are four naiads, water nymphs each representing different water sources. These include the Naiad of the Oceans riding a horse symbolizing waves, the Naiad of the Rivers riding a river monster, the Naiad of the Lakes holding a swan, and the Naiad of the Underground Waters riding a dragon.

The sculptural ensemble was created by Mario Rutelli, a Sicilian artist who, interestingly, was also the grandfather of Rome's former mayor, Francesco Rutelli. When unveiled to the public in 1901, the naiads' nudity and seductive poses caused a sensation, as they stood completely naked, drenched by water flowing from a large nozzle behind them, shimmering in the sunlight with provocative allure.