Mermaid Fountain, Cattolica

The Mermaid Fountain (Fontana delle Sirene) is a decoration of a small resort town Cattolica. This elegantly and skillfully created artwork enchants and catches everyone’s eye just how mermaids used to do when encountering sailors.

History and sculptural composition

The fountain was installed in the central city square in 1928. In the 19th century, a hospital with a health resort where the soldiers of the local garrison were treated used to stand in the same spot. The fountain project was carried out by the sculptor from Forli Giuseppe Casalini. This was a real flight of imagination. The main pool of the fountain was shaped to be round, 4 sculptures of turtles with streams of water coming from their mouths were placed on its edge. In the center of the bowl, there is also a sculpture. The plinth is decorated with bas-reliefs of seashells and fish, which let out trickles of water as well. On the pedestal there are 3 sirens, supporting the round bowl with a small fountain in it. Interestingly the sculptor used his daughter Francesca as a model while sculpturing mermaids.

This fountain that is located on the central city square is citizens and tourists’ favorite place for recreation and gatherings. Newlyweds often take photos in front of it where kids climb on top of the turtles.

How to get

The Mermaid Fountain is located on the Piazzale I Maggio. Before World War II, it was named after the fountain of Piazza delle Sirene. The coast of the Adriatic Sea and its delightful beach can be reached within a minute from here. It also takes around 10 minutes to get here from the railway station. Cattolica is located 25 km from the central city of the Rimini province. You can take a train to get there, that’s a 20-minute ride.