Elephant Fountain, Baroque fountain in Piazza del Duomo, Catania, Italy
The Elephant Fountain is a Baroque monument in the center of Piazza del Duomo, featuring a black basalt elephant supporting an Egyptian granite obelisk, adorned with marble sculptures of two local rivers. The structures surrounding the central elephant form a complex stone composition that shapes the character of the square.
Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed this fountain between 1735 and 1737 during the reconstruction of Catania following the devastating 1693 earthquake. The monument thus emerged as part of a larger program to reshape the city's public spaces after this disaster.
The elephant, known as u Liotru, has long been the face of Catania and appears on the city's coat of arms. Locals and visitors see this figure as a symbol of local identity that has shaped the city across centuries.
The fountain sits in the center of Piazza del Duomo and is easy to reach on foot when crossing the large plaza, which also holds the cathedral and other baroque buildings. Visitors can use the nearby benches and seating areas to view the monument from different angles.
When Islamic rule governed the city, it was called Medinat-el-fil, meaning city of the elephant, showing an ancient connection between Catania and this animal. This name points to a time when the elephant already held meaning for the place's identity.
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Italian historic fountains demonstrate five centuries of craftsmanship in sculpture, hydraulic engineering, and urban design. From the 15th to the 19th century, Italian artisans shaped marble, bronze, and stone to create works combining practicality and artistic expression. These fountains tell...
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