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Fountain of Neptune

Fontana del Nettuno
󰺂3.9
4.2/5
24 Reviews
based on 2688 reviews
FountainsHistorical Sites
Open year round, 24/7
Recommended sightseeing time:10-15 minutes
Address:
Piazza del Nettuno, 40124 Bologna, ItalyMap
Phone: +39 051 658 3111
What travelers say:

The Fountain of Neptune or just “Il Nettuno” as locals call it, it’s also known as "al Zigânt" (the Giant) in Bolognese dialect because of the size of the statue of Neptune. At the time of its construction it was a symbol of the power of the Pope, who ruled the world like Neptune ruled the seas. At the feet of the statue, in fact, lie four little angels, representing Gange, the Nile, the Amazon and Danube, the rivers of the continents known at the time.The trident of the statue inspired and it was used by Maserati brothers as emblem for their first car, the Maserati Tipo 26. This is still today the logo of the Maserati car company. The fountain and its sculpture are one of the most iconic symbols of the city and references to them can be found in many symbols, commercials and logos. The historical students' fraternity (Goliardia) "Excelsa Neptuni Balla", has two tridents on its emblem. The Bolognese anecdote also tells of a particular expedient implemented by Giambologna, who intended to find a way to make Neptune with realistic genitals, without being discovered and admonished by the Church. The sculptor designed the statue in such a way that from a particular angle the thumb of Neptune's outstretched hand seems to emerge directly from the lower abdomen, making him suggest the (erect) genital; as proof of the same, in the pavement of the square there is a black stone, also called "of shame" placed in a very specific point in piazza del Nettuno (to be precise at the foot of the entrance stairway to the Salaborsa library) which facilitates its vision.

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