Welcome to the site Napoliforme

It was moved to Largo Sermoneta, just before the street leading up to the Posillipo hill, at the end of the numerous urban development projects begun in the 19th century to build the new seafront. Commissioned by the Viceroy in 1635, it was placed next to the Royal Palace to represent the Sebeto, a river that disappeared and washed Naples in ancient times. It is probably the watercourse, the course of which is unknown, that flowed underground in the eastern part of the city and divided into two branches: one flowed out at the Maddalena bridge, the other near the islet of Megaride, where Castel dell'Ovo is located. The fountain consists of an arch surmounted by the coats of arms of the viceroy, the city and the Spanish king Philip IV; on the base, in a large shell, is the bearded statue representing the river and, leaning against the pillars, two tritons with buccine (curved shells) from which the water flows; two obelisks on the sides complete the structure and on the impost of the arch a plaque commemorates its creation. In Neapolitan legends, fountains are often born from tears shed for fatal or lost loves: Sebeto is a rich man in love with his beautiful wife Megara. One day, during a boat trip, Megara decided to cross an area of the gulf towards the Platamonia beach (the Chiatamone), where the water is often rough. The wind rises, the sea becomes stormy, the boat capsizes and Megara disappears into the sea to magically transform herself into the rock of Megaride. At the news, Sebeto pours out all his tears in despair, until he turns into a river and rushes into the sea to rejoin his bride.