Fontana di Orione
At the centre of Piazza Duomo, water has been falling through three tiers of Carrara marble since 1553. The fountain rises in a pyramid: four putti riding dolphins at the lowest basin, Naiads and Tritons above them, and at the top Orion himself, shield bearing the city's emblem, his dog Sirius at his feet. Around the broad dodecagonal base, four river gods — Nile, Tiber, Ebro, and the local Camaro — pour water from forty-four springs.
Stand here long enough and you notice the Latin couplets carved beneath the river figures, composed by the Messina mathematician Francesco Maurolico, who also chose the subject. This is civic pride in stone and water, built to celebrate an aqueduct.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to come back in the early morning, before the cathedral square fills up. The light hits the marble differently then, and you get a clearer look at the bas-reliefs — eight mythological scenes that most visitors walk past without stopping. The bell tower behind you is worth a glance too, though that's a separate story.
The story behind Fontana di Orione
The fountain's origins lie in infrastructure. Between 1530 and 1547, architect Francesco La Cameola built an aqueduct to bring water into Messina, and the city Senate commissioned a monument to mark it. They turned to Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli — a pupil of Michelangelo — who designed the work with collaborator Domenico Vanello. It was completed in 1553. To make room for it, the medieval Church of San Lorenzo was demolished; Montorsoli rebuilt it nearby in Renaissance style, though that building later fell in the earthquake of 1783.
The 1908 earthquake, which devastated Messina, left the fountain heavily damaged. A major restoration by the Messina Superintendence was completed in 1995, returning the pyramid of figures and basins to something close to what Montorsoli left behind.
Good to know
The fountain is in Piazza Duomo and visible around the clock at no cost. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for lingering outdoors. ATM buses and trams connect most of Messina; from the port, the square is reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride.
April through June and September through October bring the most comfortable conditions for spending time in the open square. Summer is hot and can be crowded around the cathedral; winter is mild but occasionally wet.
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What travellers say about Fontana di Orione
Nice fountain in a nice square beside the cathedral. Worth a visit because there's not so many old buildings to admire in Messina. The cathedral has some nice decorations, but the most interesting was an exhibition of information boards where you could read about the earthquake that demolished Messina in 1908.
Messina is well worth a visit. Loads of history, places to see, explore. 1908 disaster, etc. Also Taormina if you want to get a great view of Mount Etna. I counted you go through 25 tunnels to get to it from Messina. Both highly recommend
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I live in the Province of Messina so visit the city often and on every occasion I see this marvelous work of art and craftsmanship I am overwhelmed. Located in the heart of Messina it is definitely worth seeing and photographing. Built in the 16th century, it survived the devastating 1908 earthquake.
Be there at noon to experience the tower come to life
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