The iconic shines again elephant fountain placed in the center of Cathedral square in Catania, surmounted by his liotru, handed over to the city after restoration lasted two months.
The Elephant Fountain
La elephant fountain it is a complex monumental work built between 1735 and 1737 by the architect from Palermo Giovanni Battista Vaccarini active in the reconstruction of the city of Catania and architect of its current image after the disastrous 1693 earthquake which almost totally destroyed it. The elephant that surmounts the fountain is pre-existing.
In the aftermath of the destruction of the city, it was decided to enhance it by placing it at the center of a new architectural complex that related to the rest of the buildings all built in the typical Sicilian and Catania Baroque, with the mixture of different colors and materials: black of the lava basalt and white of the Syracusan limestone.
Slowly it became the symbol of the city and its Baroque, decreed by Unesco as World Heritage Site.
A symbol of the city
It is located in the center of the scenic and elegant Piazza del Duomo, a short distance from cathedral, from elephant palace, seat of the municipality, from historic fish market where there are two other historic fountains: that of Amenano river and the oldest of the "Seven cannola” and of the Uzeda door.
Time and wear and tear have disfigured the original beauty restored after a skilful restoration work that began last April and was carried out thanks to the proceeds of the tourist tax.
The Palermitan architect, for the construction of the fountain, was inspired by theObelisk of Minerva di Gian Lorenzo Bernini, his master, who is in Rome.
Structure
The base is formed by a white marble pedestal located in the center of a basin, also in marble, into which jets of water fall from the base. On the base two sculptures reproduce the two rivers of Catania, the Simeto and the Amenano. The decorative apparatus refers to mythology, Christianity, the literature present in the Latin inscriptions.
There are shells and, on the sides, putti and allegorical female figures holding up symbols related to the city's hydrography and masks. Also used is red granite with many streaks to create a suggestive chromatic effect.
Above is the lava stone elephant, surmounted by an obelisk of Egyptian origin which arrived in Catania thanks to the Crusades. Vaccarini added the white stone eyes and fangs.
The elephant in Catania
The elephant in Catania is a symbol of the city: it also has its own characteristic name, liotru, dialectical distortion of the name of Heliodorus, legendary figure from Catania. It was a magician or necromancer who lived in 725 AD who used to play pranks on the people of Catania after being rejected to fill the position of bishop. He was persecuted and burned at the stake. It is said that to move around he used the black stone elephant that he carved with the boiling lava of Etna and gave it life.
The statue historically dates back to the period of Carthaginian or Byzantine domination, as claimed by many scholars. The author is unknown.
Il liotru it became the symbol of the city in 1239: it bears a marble saddle cloth on which the coats of arms of Sant'Agata, patron saint of the city, are engraved. There are other symbols. It is used as a sort of sundial.
The restoration
Over the years, the damage caused by time, water and uncivilized people has affected its beauty and functioning. For this reason, the municipal administration made the restoration work necessary. The last intervention dates back to twenty-five years ago.
The works were necessary to clean the site of the thick layers of carbonate and to contain the dispersion of water which creates the formation of biological patinas which affect the chromatic balance achieved by Vaccarini and cause serious damage to the functional apparatus of the fountain itself. The greatest damage in the central part, in the female allegorical figures.
A system has been recreated that allows you to see the new gushes; the tub has been cleaned and repainted.
The restoration was taken care of by the Scancarello company, specialized in conservative restorations, which operated in synergy with the technical support of the other bodies responsible for the care and safeguarding of historical architectural assets of cultural value, the University, professional associations and theReeds.
For the realization of the restoration, the tourist tax was used, without affecting the balance of the budget. All this is aimed at improving the conditions of the heart of the historic city centre.
The interventions
The works that began last April were completed a few days ago. The fountain and the Liotru have been enclosed; the artist's decorative intervention is important Except Ligama who created artistic panels collaborating with the students of theAcademy of Fine Arts of Catania.
The elephant was wrapped in a cloth to protect it from interventions to repair water leaks and clean up surfaces, a singular image that made many people in Catania smile.
Delivery
The delivery of the work to the city on the morning of July 14 was attended by the mayor Enrico Trantino and the entire council, managers, technicians and representatives of the institutions and realities involved, including the Superintendency for Cultural Heritage of Catania.
The Liotru towers once again shining over Piazza Duomo in Catania, ready to be immortalized by the many tourists who flock to the city and to live in symbiosis with the people of Catania who usually sit on the stone steps to eat meals, see the saint, enjoy the view.
A cultural asset valued and returned to the community to be fully enjoyed.
