Fountain of Hercules

Style and General Description

The Fountain of Hercules, a work created in 1757 by the sculptor Giuseppe Orlando. The fountain features a statue of Hercules at the top, transferred from the square of the old Senatorial Palace in 1790. Hercules is depicted in a moment of rest after the battle with the Nemean lion. The fountain consists of a square base, a cylindrical shaft with cherubs holding basins and lion heads from which water spouts.

Features and Curiosities

The Fountain of Hercules holds symbolic value for Noto. In 1860, during the Garibaldian revolution, young anti-Bourbon activists raised the first tricolor flag between Hercules’ arms with the inscription “Death to whoever touches this banner,” giving important historical meaning to the work. The statue of Hercules was modified in 1893, replacing the club with a shield bearing the symbol of Noto. 

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Fountain of Hercules

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