Fountain of Neptune and War Memorial in Giarre

The impetuous force that bursts from the muscles of the horses, ready to leap, is the same that can be admired in the outstretched wings of the eagle, as it rests its claws on the marble entablature; the man, depicted as a victorious soldier or as an imperious god, is at the center of both sculptural groups located in Giarre, in the Metropolitan City of Catania: the Fountain of Neptune and the Monument to the Fallen, also share the ground of origin, because the fountain initially stood where the War Memorial stands today.

The Fountain of Neptune is the work of the sculptor Anthony DiFrancesco, and was built in the early twentieth century to be placed in Piazza Monsignor Alessi. The history of this work of art was, however, very troubled from the beginning. The sculptor had in fact placed a mermaid at the center of the composition, whose nudity had scandalized everyone at the time. For this reason, the entire fountain was moved to Via Callipoli, where it still stands today.

Even the siren, the main figure of the composition, was transformed into a male subject, i.e. the god Neptune, Lord of the Sea. The sculptor who took care of replacing the main figure was Mario Moschetti, an artist of Roman origins.
Since then, the statue has risked being removed several times, but today it seems to have finally found its definitive position, even after recent restorations.

The other sculptural group that has men and animals as protagonists is the Monument to the Fallen of Giarre in the World War I. The marble complex is located in Piazza Monsignor Alessi, right in place of the Fountain of Neptune.
The Monument was built in 1929, more than a decade after the end of the First World War. Dedicated to the memory of the missing soldiers, the monument recites all the names of the sons of Giarre, who died for the country.

The architecture of the Neptune fountain and the war memorial in Giarre

The two beautiful civil monuments that can be admired in the municipality of Giarre both appear as sculptural groups that share the presence of a human figure (or divine, but in any case with human features) at the center of the scene, while around it animals, both the horses and the eagle, represent strength and power.

Neptune rises from a basin, where he dominates the waters with his trident. The statue is in marble, accompanied by two majestic horses led by cherubs and the sculptural group almost completely covers the surface of the basin.

The Monument to the Fallen stands tall: the large marble base starts from the ground on which two Doric columns rest. The upper part of the monument consists of a fragment of entablature which serves as a support for the marble eagle, which dominates the scene from above. At the foot of the base also stands the soldier, praising the Victory of Italy in the war, holding a statuette representing the country in his hand.
The names of the fallen soldiers, remembered by Giarre, are written on the base and can be easily read by visitors and by the citizens themselves.

What you can do near the fountain of Neptune and the war memorial in Giarre and in the surrounding area

Visiting Giarre, it is possible to take a walk through the town center and admire these works of art in the open air, letting yourself be carried away for a few moments by the artistic narration of the sculptural groups and perhaps dedicating a thought to the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country.

Continuing the walk, you can visit the two villas of Giarre, Villa Margherita and Villa San Francesco d'Assisi, to walk in the countryside, perhaps with children who will be free to run outdoors. Those who are passionate about art can also visit the Shrine of Santa Maria La Strada, dating back to the XNUMXth century or the splendid Church of San Francesco al Carmine, parish of the town built in 1857. Bonaventure Palace, among the civil architectures found in the centre, is another beautiful attraction to visit, with its Art Nouveau architecture.

In the village, then, there are other attractions that you can visit if you have a few days of vacation available. In this case, however, also take advantage of the beauties that are found in the surroundings of Giarre: the beautiful Stazzo beach, perfect in the summer season, or the Etna Adventure Park, where to take the children too.

How to get to the fountain of Neptune and the war memorial in Giarre

Both of these important monuments of Giarre are located in the center of the town: the Statue of Neptune is located in Via Callipoli and War Memorial is located in Piazza Monsignor Alessi.

Giarre, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, can be easily reached from the main cities of Sicily both by car and by train.

By car, you can arrive from the A18, Catania-Messina motorway, taking the Giarre exit directly; by train, the closest railway station is Giarre-Riposto on the Messina-Syracuse line.

© Remtene, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons