Fountain, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy
Fountain of Neptune, Florence, Italy
The marble statue of Neptune is the centerpiece of the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy. The figure was completed in 1565, by sculptor Bartolomeo Ammannati. Commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici, the fountain symbolizes Florence’s command of the Mediterranean Sea. The statue of Neptune is a 19th century copy; the original is in the National Museum. The other marble and bronze elements of the fountain were not finished in 1574.
The fountain at the end of the street. I arrived tired and a bit cranky, but a nap and a lovely dinner restored me. I am excited to be in Rome for four days. My last visit was in 2001, shortly after 9/11.
15th-Century Fountain of Espéluque, Aix-en-Provence, France
The oldest part of Fountain of Espéluque in Aix. The original 15th-century fountain, inset into a later support, was moved several times before being installed in the Place de l’Archevêtché by Georges Vallon in 1756. I couldn’t find any information about the 1618 date, which must have been added after the original installation.
Join Wit’s End Weekly Photo Challenge: Moving Water
Detail for one of two identical Baroque fountains in Rossio Square (Pedro IV Square) in Lisbon, Portugal. I blinked and the water started to flow.
Fountain of the Rivers, Place de la Concorde, Paris, France
The Fountain of the Rivers (Fontaine des Fleuves), is one of a pair of monumental cast iron and bronze fountains on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Large figures supporting the fountain’s upper bowl represent the Rhône and the Rhine Rivers and Frances’ major crops in the 18th century: wheat, grapes, flowers and fruit. Construction of the fountains, created by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, was completed in 1840. Outside the frame of this photo, sculptures of Tritons or Nereids holding dolphins spraying water from their mouths decorate the fountain’s basin.
The New 3 Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect 