Fontana di Santa Lucia, Baroque fountain in Santa Lucia district, Naples, Italy

The Fontana di Santa Lucia is a Mannerist fountain in the Villa Comunale, moved here in 1898 from the Santa Lucia waterfront. Its basin forms the base of three parts: a central arch with three dolphins on a rock holding a circular cup, crowned by a triangular pediment with the viceregal coat of arms, and lateral sections with marble plaques and shell-shaped basins.

The fountain was built in 1606 and demonstrates the engineering skill of early 17th-century Naples through its connection to ancient water supply networks. Its design reflects the efforts to provide the city with clean water while creating a structure of artistic quality.

The fountain's name comes from the Santa Lucia waterfront where it stood until 1895, when it was moved to the Villa Comunale in 1898. Two marble plaques on its sides, with texts by Bernardo Quaranta, record the 1845 restoration and correct the old attribution to Giovanni da Nola. Because of Bernardo De Dominici's false account it was also called fontana Merliana.

The fountain now stands in the Villa Comunale, the seafront park along the Riviera di Chiaia, not in the Santa Lucia district. It was moved here in 1898 after being removed from via Santa Lucia in 1895. Look for it among the park's avenues, near the other monumental fountains.

The dolphins holding the upper basin were added in Carlo Bonucci's 1845 restoration; before that, sirens supported it, spouting water from their mouths and breasts. Two side plaques, with texts by Bernardo Quaranta, record the road works and the restoration, and one states that De Dominici was wrong to name Giovanni da Nola as author.