Fuente de Neptuno, Neoclassical fountain in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.

The Fuente de Neptuno is a neoclassical fountain built of pinkish cantera stone, with a rectangular basin below and a tall arched facade above. Inside the arch stands a bronze copy of the statue of Neptune, bearded and holding a trident, on a pedestal above the water; two large fish slide between his feet on a base shaped like sea waves. Carved medallions decorate the side panels and spandrels, and a carved face sits in the archway above the statue.

Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras designed this fountain in 1797 and originally placed it in the garden of San Antonio Convent. Its relocation to Santa Clara garden in 1908 established it as a focal point in that public space.

The fountain depicts Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, reflecting Spanish colonial influence on the public monuments that shaped Mexico during the 18th century. This connection between European mythology and local spaces shows how ancient legends arrived in Mexico through colonization.

The fountain sits at the intersection of Madero and Allende streets in Santa Clara garden and is free to visit throughout the day. The location is easily walkable and offers a quiet spot for exploring and taking photographs.

The original statue was carved from pink cantera by Juan Izguerra, not limestone, and survives intact in the Centro delegation building. The bronze copy by Abraham González that stands in the fountain was decapitated in the 1990s and restored, then toppled again on 3 October 2022, damaging its left wrist, one fish and the trident. A local legend claims the first statue was melted down for cannonballs during the 1867 siege of Querétaro; the cantera original disproves it.