The Fountain of Neptune is one of Bologna’s most recognisable landmarks, standing in Piazza del Nettuno beside Piazza Maggiore. Known locally as il Gigante, or the Giant, its bronze sea god towers above a stone basin decorated with dolphins, cherubs and four water-spouting female figures.
Completed in the 1560s, the fountain was designed by architect Tommaso Laureti, with the bronze Neptune sculpted by Giambologna. Commissioned during Bologna’s period of papal rule, it combined a practical water supply with an unmistakable display of authority. Neptune’s trident later inspired the emblem of Maserati, the carmaker founded in Bologna.
Walk around the fountain to appreciate Giambologna’s muscular, twisting figure and the details of the base. From one particular angle, Neptune’s outstretched thumb creates a famously cheeky optical illusion. Visit early for quieter photographs, or come in the evening when the monument is lit and the surrounding square is lively. The fountain is free to see and easily reached on foot from the historic centre; Bologna Centrale is roughly a 20-minute walk away. Admire it from the edge of the basin rather than climbing on the monument.