Fontana di Diana

Standing at the center of the bustling Piaz-za Ar-chi-me-de is the Fon-ta-na di Dia-na, a monumental work that serves as the visual and symbolic anchor of Ortigia's central district. Commissioned at the turn of the twentieth…

Giulio Moschetti, a sculptor known for his grand public works, designed the Fountain of Diana to reflect the 'Greatness of Syracuse.' At the time of its unveiling in 1907, the city was undergoing a period of modernization and…

At the absolute pinnacle of the composition stands Diana—Artemis to the Greeks—the goddess of the hunt, the forest, and the moon. She is the central protagonist of the fountain's story. …

Just below the goddess Diana, we see the most dramatic element of the fountain: the nymph Arethusa in the very moment of her metamorphosis. This is a brilliant piece of narrative sculpture. …

On the opposite side of Arethusa, we find the figure of Alpheus, the river god whose unwanted passion triggered the nymph's flight. Alpheus is depicted as a powerful, bearded man, his muscular form emerging from the waves as he…

Supporting the central figures and rising from the base of the fountain is a fantastic array of maritime creatures. You will see four tritons—male mermaids—riding seahorses and sea monsters. …

In recent years, the Fountain of Diana underwent a major restoration to address the vulnerabilities of its reinforced cement structure. Cement, unlike marble, can suffer from internal rusting of its iron 'skeleton,' leading to…

As we stand before the Fon-ta-na di Dia-na one last time, we see more than just a beautiful sculpture. We see a mirror of Ortigia itself—a place where the ancient myths of the Greeks are still being retold using the technology of…