Fontana di Bellerofonte

Fontana di Bellerofonte is a fountain in Avellino built with white stone from the Irpinia region and bardiglio marble, featuring three water spouts. The structure displays curved volutes and a carefully designed basin that combines different surface textures.

A prince of Avellino commissioned a renowned sculptor in 1669 to create this fountain during a period when the city was being reshaped. The work emerged at a time when artistic ambition and urban development converged in Southern Italy.

The fountain is named after the mythological hero Bellerofonte and displays artistic features that were common in Southern Italy during the late Renaissance period. Visitors can see in the stone details how artists of that time tried to capture movement and drama in permanent materials.

The fountain sits on the main street of the city and is easy to reach on foot. The site remains accessible most days and visitors can explore the surrounding area at leisure.

The fountain employs a clever interplay of concave and convex surfaces to create optical illusions that appear to amplify water movement. This design shows how artists of that time experimented with form and light to produce dynamic effects.