Fontana di Bellerofonte, Baroque fountain in Avellino, Italy.
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.
The fountain dates from the second half of the 17th century and was made by the Bergamasque sculptor Cosimo Fanzago for Francesco Marino I Caracciolo, who wanted to embellish a plainer earlier watering trough. In 1983, after the earthquake that struck Avellino, the Bellerophon sculpture at the top was stolen and has not been seen since.
Locals call it fontana dei tre cannuóli, after the three spouts at the base that still pour water from Monte Partenio. The name Bellerofonte comes from the sculpture once set at the top, showing the hero giving the Chimera the death blow; it has not been seen since it was looted after the 1983 earthquake.
The fountain stands in the upper part of Corso Umberto I, in Avellino's historic centre, on the stretch once called Via di Costantinopoli. It is reached on foot along the corso; the three spouts at the base still pour water from Monte Partenio.
The Bellerofonte sculpture that gave the fountain its name stood at the top centre until 1983, when it was looted after the earthquake that struck Avellino. Five niches at the top once held statues and busts, probably from ancient Abellinum, all now lost.
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