Fountain of the Esedra

Frontal view of the Fountain of the Esedra.

The fountain of the Esedra is the largest fountain in Naples, Italy, in the vast architectural complex of the Mostra d'Oltremare.

History

The fountain was designed in 1938 by two architects, Carlo Cocchia and Luigi Piccinato, and inaugurated in 1940. It was commissioned by the fascist regime, as it was to celebrate the Italian colonial policy. The inauguration was spectacular: the symphony "Fontane d'Oltremare" (composed by Guido Pannain) was performed and the water jets were synchronized with the music.

Decorations of mosaics found on the fountain.

On May 23, 2006, after about thirty years of almost total abandonment and two and a half years of work that cost about six million euros, the fountain was restored and inaugurated again.

Features

The structure, inspired by the eighteenth-century models of the fountain of the Royal Palace of Caserta, with its extension of 900 square metres (9,700 sq ft), it contains 4,000 cubic metres (140,000 cu ft) of water and emit jets up to 40 metres (130 ft) high. Around it is surrounded by eight hundred tall trees, especially pines and holm oaks. Currently the fountain counts 76 exedra basins, 1300 nozzles made of brass and bronze, twelve cascading fountains and as many electric pumps. Thanks to about 800 projectors that emit lights of various colors and an audio system, the fountain is able to offer very suggestive shows. The decoration of the fountain, made in ceramic, is the work of Giuseppe Macedonio.

Gallery

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  View of all the park
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  More zoomed mosaics
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  View of the river of the fountain