Fountain of Neptune

On the Theater Square of Batumi, right in front of the building of the Drama Theater, rises one of the most discussed and photographed landmarks of the city - the Neptune Fountain. This is an exact copy of the famous 16th century fountain of the same name, which decorates the square in the Italian Bologna.

The central figure of the composition is Neptune himself, the god of the seas, clutching a trident. His statue, installed on a high pedestal, was covered in shining gilding in 2011, as were the heraldic shields at his feet. Around the ruler of the seas are four bronze mermaids, from whose naked breasts streams of water spurt, which caused a lot of controversy among locals due to their frankness. The composition is complemented by figures of babies, symbolizing the great rivers of the world - the Nile, the Ganges, the Amazon and the Danube.

The history of the fountain's installation was controversial: it appeared on the site of a monument to the outstanding Georgian poet Ilya Chavchavadze, which caused public discontent (the monument was later moved behind the theater building). In addition, some city residents consider the Batumi version to be a less than successful copy of the Italian masterpiece. Nevertheless, the Neptune Fountain has become an integral part of the square and a popular attraction. During the day, you can often see tourist groups here, and in the evenings the square is filled with vacationing city residents and guests of Batumi.