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entry Mar 2007
The Monument Fountains of Naples
I was saddened by an article in the paper entitled "Monument Fountains:
a treasure that is vanishing." In a modern big city today, public
fountains are largely ornamental. Yet, until the advent of the modern Serino aqueduct system
in the 1880s, most Neapolitans (that is, those who didn't have private
cisterns in their courtyards that tapped into the older aqueduct) did
what many people all over the world still do—walk to the nearest
public fountain with some buckets and draw water. There were many
smaller fountains as well as an ample number of what today are called
"monument fountains"—big and beautiful, usually going back to the
Spanish renovations in the city in the 1600s. Many of the smaller
fountains have long since fallen into disuse and are eyesores, often
victims
of wanton vandalism and refuse dumping. (The "vanishing treasures"
mentioned in the article were, indeed, two fountains recently
vandalized beyond repair; they are not among those shown below.)
The city has taken a bit of care (it could take more) to ensure that
the larger monument fountains are kept up such that they add somewhat
of an aesthetic touch to the city. The Naples water board in many cases
has refurbished the water pipes and pumps such that water still flows.
(Indeed, there is nothing worse than looking at a fountain with no
water.
Beyond aesthetics, the working fountains are good places to sit and
cool off in the summer.)
Among the important fountains that have served the city--some for
centuries--are:
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The Fountain of Neptune (left)—
This
is one of the most widely "travelled" fountains in the city. (Click here for a separate item.)
The Fountain of the Little
King (right) —Dedicated
to Charles II of Hapsburg, the
fountain was built in 1670.
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The Sebeto Fountain (left)—Named
for the ancient river that flowed in
Naples,
the fountain was designed by Cosimo Fanzago,
the
great
18th-century architect; the actual construction was completed
by his son, Carlo. It was originally located in the Santa Lucia area
but was moved to its current location at the port of Mergellina in 1938.
The Fountain of Santa
Lucia (right)— Commissioned
by viceroy Juan Alfonso Pimente at the beginning of the 17th century,
the fountain was originally located on what is today via Cesario
Console, the street that leads from the Royal palace to Santa Lucia. It
was moved once, and then again in 1895 to its current location on the
grounds
of the Villa Comunale.
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"The Giant" (left)—Another
fountain that gets around a lot. (See here for a separate item).
The Fountain of Orestes
and
Electra (right)—This
is one of the many 19th-century fountains built on classical models. It
was created in 1840 by Tommaso Solari
and Angelo Violani. it is on the
grounds of the Villa Comunale near the
Dohrn Aquarium.
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The Four Lions (left)—The basin
was moved from from the temple of Poseidon in Paestum; the statues of
the lions are by Pietro Bianchi, designer of the church of San Francesco di Paola. The
fountain was put into the Villa Comunale
in 1825.
Parthenope
(right)—Created
by Onofrio Buccino in 1869. Moved to its current location in Piazza
Sannazzaro in 1924 at the entrance to the new tunnel to Fuorigrotta. Parthenope was the
mythological siren for whom the original city was
named (before becoming "Neapolis"). The fountain was recently restored
by the Brancaccio Association under the guidance of film director Lina
Wertmuller. |
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The Triton Fountain (left)—a
relatively recent (1934) addition to the fountains of Naples, created
by Carlo De Veroli.
It
is in the public gardens at Piazza Cavour
near the National Museum and shows
Triton, the merman sea god spouting water from a conch--his "wreathed
horn," as Wordsworth called it.
The "Carciofo" fountain (right)—
meaning
"artichoke,"
a nickname given to
this fountain
the moment it went up in the 1950s at the behest of major Achille Lauro. The nickname is derived from the
appearance of the top of the fountain. It is located at Piazza Trieste
e Trento (aka San Ferdinando)
near
the Royal
Palace.
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There are a number of others, but these are among the most prominent.
Off-site info: For those fascinated by fountains, aqueducts, and
"waterscaping," in general, there is a very informative website at garden-fountains.com.
Also
see
"The Art of Science of Water" in
this
recent
copy of Saudi Aramco
World.
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