Fountain of Neptune

Fountain of Neptune

Fountain of Neptune
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  • Brad
    Hong Kong, China177,556 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The beautiful Neptune fountain at Piazza Navona
    The Neptune Fountain is situated at the northern end of Piazza Navona. It is one of three fountains you can enjoy on the square. Originally created by Giacomo della Porta (1574), it was enhanced in 1878 by Antonio della Bitta who added the central figure of Neptune, who you will see battling a formidable octopus. You will also see Neptune's chariot horses rising from the fountain waters on both sides as well as nymphs and other mythical sea creatures situated around middle basin from which water spills into a lower ground level basin. It is a very beautiful fountain monument and very nice complement to G.D. Porta's Moor Fountain located on the opposite end of the square. Both are well worth spending a few minutes to enjoy while sightseeing around Piazza Navona.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 25, 2024
  • Johan A
    Jönköping, Sweden227 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice place
    A good place to rest your feet after walking in Rome. Nice piazza with many restaurants and cafes. Also an amazing fact that the piazza is the place of the world’s first sports stadium
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 1, 2024
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom11,479 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exploring Piazza Navona
    On it’s own, the Fountain of Neptune would be impressive. However it’s one of 3 monumental fountains in Piazza Navona. At one end of the long oval-shaped piazza is the Fountain of the Moors and at the opposite end, is the Fountain of Neptune. It’s worth walking the from one end of the piazza to the other, to check out all three fountains. They are all lovely and its a lively, fun piazza to stroll through. A very basic fountain was first placed here in 1547 century by Pope Gregory XII but the mermaids, horses, gods and cherubs were only added some 300 years later. Without them, it would have been plain but with them, it’s dramatic and highly ornate. The central figure is the sea-god, Neptune. It captures the moment when Neptune is about to forcefully plunge his spear into the body of the monster-like octopus that has him trapped. It’s all happening. Horses are rearing up, riders are tumbling, cherubs are scrambling over the backs of giant fish and the mermaids are having their own struggles with wild dolphins. The original basin was designed by Della Porta and the sculptures added by the relatively unknown sculptors, Antonio della Bitta and Gregorio Zappalà.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 9, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Foodie_CST🍽🇷🇴
Kolios, Greece5,098 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Family
Seen this lovely fountain on our last trip to Rome. Located in Piazza Navona, this is one of the three fountains you can see in this square. This fountain was build sometime in 1500's so it is about 500 year old, definitely I recommend you check it out.
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,479 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Piazza Navona is one of my favourite spots in Rome, mainly because of the 3 beautiful fountains. The bigger, more showier fountain in the centre gets most of the attention but all 3 are lovely and strolling through the piazza is a great way to spend some time in Rome.
The Neptune fountain was commissioned by Pope Gregory XII in 16th century.
It captures the moment when Neptune, the Greek god of the sea, is about to kill an octopus by driving a long spear right through it. It’s a dramatic moment. The octopus is entwining its tentacles around his legs but Neptune has his arm theatrically raised and is about to bring the spear down with all his might. It’s not going to be pretty.
Sea nymphs, cupids and sea-horses surround Neptune. The sea-horses add to the drama by rising up from the water, with their front legs rearing up.
Written July 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MoonaMuslim
739 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
The Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno) is one of the three fountains in Piazza Navona. All 3 fountains are worth seeing and are right next to each other.
In the middle of the piazza, the Fontana dei Fiumi. In the south of the piazza, the Fontana del Moro. As a counterpart, the Fontana del Nettuno flanks to the north of the square.
The Fontana del Nettuno was built in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta. The fountain got its current shape with fountain figures between 1873 and 1878: Neptune stabs an octopus with his trident, flanked by other mythological marine figures
Written July 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dapper777
Monaco66,811 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
The fountain, also known as the fountain of the "calderari", by the vendors of copper vessels in the nearby Piazza S. Apollinare, is located in the northern end of Piazza Navona. The design of this fountain was commissioned to Giacomo Della Porta in 1574.
The project originally was to offer simple drinking troughs.
It was replaced in the mid-seventeenth century by the current basin, built by Bernini on the model of the Moro fountain located at the opposite end of the square.
The decoration of the basin, which should have been similar to that one as its twin, with tritons and masks, was not realized, however.
Only after Rome became the capital of the kingdon, in 1873 the Municipality commisioned the creation of the central group with Neptune fighting an octopus to the sculptor Antonio Della Bitta and the eight lateral groups with nereids, sea horses, cherubs and dolphins (alternating) to Sicilian Gregorio ZappalĂ .
Neptune is the central figure, representing the god of the sea with the trident that defends himself from an octopus clinging to its legs .
At the semicircular sides are aquatic animals and nereids, sea horses led by children, sirens fighting with sea, monsters and winged cherubs playing with dolphins,
It is beautiful.
Every time we can't stop admiring it.
It is one of our favorite fountains in Rome.
Magical location, of course
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,479 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Three beautiful marble fountains can be found in the one place at Piazza Navona. This is one of the two smaller fountains that sit at opposite ends of the piazza.
It was commissioned by Pope Gregory XII in 16th century.
The basic fountain was built in 1574 but the statues were not added for another 300 years. Without all the the mermaids, horses, gods and cherubs, it would have been a rather plain affair. With them, it’s high drama. Neptune, the sea-god, is entangled in the tentacles of an octopus which have his legs in an almost vice-like grip. Neptune’s arms are raised and at any moment, he’s about to plunge his spear into the octopus’ body. Equally dramatically, two horses are rearing, with front legs in the air and rising up out of the water as their hapless riders slip sideways. It’s hard to tell what the two mermaids are doing but they appear to be either playing with, or strangling, a swan. Or perhaps it’s a very stylised dolphin.
The other two fountains probably attract more attention because they are the work of the Baroque genius, Gian Bernini and whole walking tours are designed around seeing Bernini’s work in Rome. The Fontana del Nettuno was a collaborative affair, with the basin being designed by Della Porta and the sculptures being created by the relatively obscure sculptors, Antonio della Bitta and Gregorio Zappalà. However its a lively, theatrical piece and its well worth walking the length of the piazza to check out all three fountains.
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angelo S
Hilliard, OH5,340 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Located in the beautiful Piazza Navona, this fountain is one of three that can be viewed here. The god Neptune in all of his glory riding seahorses while nymphs and cherubs attend him. Well worth a visit, and if you like sculpture, this is definitely one to see.
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,479 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
On it’s own, the Fountain of Neptune would be impressive. However it’s one of 3 monumental fountains in Piazza Navona.
At one end of the long oval-shaped piazza is the Fountain of the Moors and at the opposite end, is the Fountain of Neptune.
It’s worth walking the from one end of the piazza to the other, to check out all three fountains. They are all lovely and its a lively, fun piazza to stroll through.
A very basic fountain was first placed here in 1547 century by Pope Gregory XII but the mermaids, horses, gods and cherubs were only added some 300 years later.
Without them, it would have been plain but with them, it’s dramatic and highly ornate.
The central figure is the sea-god, Neptune. It captures the moment when Neptune is about to forcefully plunge his spear into the body of the monster-like octopus that has him trapped. It’s all happening. Horses are rearing up, riders are tumbling, cherubs are scrambling over the backs of giant fish and the mermaids are having their own struggles with wild dolphins.
The original basin was designed by Della Porta and the sculptures added by the relatively unknown sculptors, Antonio della Bitta and Gregorio ZappalĂ .
Written June 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brad
Hong Kong, China177,556 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
The Neptune Fountain is situated at the northern end of Piazza Navona. It is one of three fountains you can enjoy on the square. Originally created by Giacomo della Porta (1574), it was enhanced in 1878 by Antonio della Bitta who added the central figure of Neptune, who you will see battling a formidable octopus. You will also see Neptune's chariot horses rising from the fountain waters on both sides as well as nymphs and other mythical sea creatures situated around middle basin from which water spills into a lower ground level basin.

It is a very beautiful fountain monument and very nice complement to G.D. Porta's Moor Fountain located on the opposite end of the square. Both are well worth spending a few minutes to enjoy while sightseeing around Piazza Navona.
Written April 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rui_F74
Santo Tirso, Portugal18,370 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
The Neptune Fountain that we see today is the result of two phases of execution, the first dating back to the second half of the 19th century. XVI, in which the basin was made, designed by Giacomo della Porta (1532-1602), following a commission from Pope Gregory XIII (1501-1585).
The second phase, with the inclusion of stone images, that of Neptune fighting an octopus, is by the sculptor Antonio Della Bitta, and the other sculptures, nereids, seahorses, dolphins, etc., are by Gregorio Zappala, here installed in 1878.
When I passed here, the fountain was in full operation and therefore of great beauty, with a large amount of running water.
Around it there are small stone pillars connected by a metal part, which invite people not to approach the fountain.
Google
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shasha
Chino Valley, AZ595 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
Across Piazza Navona from the Fountain of Four Rivers sits the Fontana dei Nettuno. Giacomo della Porta created its basin in 1574 for Pope Gregory XIII. Antonio della Bitta, added the Neptune fighting with an octopus.sculpture in 1878 to balance with La Fontana del Moro.
Written March 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Fountain of Neptune - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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