Why is there a statue dedicated to a “total dud”? Before you stands the Ferdinando II Statue. It might seem like a typical monument to a king, but its story is anything but ordinary. Ferdinando II, King of Naples and Sicily, wouldn’t normally be considered a top candidate for a grand statue, especially by the standards of Antonio Canova, the artist originally commissioned for the project. Canova, famous for masterpieces like “Psyche Revived by Love’s Kiss”, found Ferdinando unremarkable, even calling him a “total dud” compared to his father, Charles III. Despite this, the statue was commissioned, though Canova, unfortunately, died before its completion. The task fell to Neapolitan sculptor Antonio Cali, who saw the project through. However, the story doesn’t end there. In 1860, when Garibaldi’s forces marched into Naples, the statue, along with that of Ferdinando’s father, faced the wrath of an angry mob. A quick-thinking priest saved the day. He climbed atop the statue and urged the crowd to see its potential. He suggested replacing the heads with those of Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel. This act of creative compromise saved the Ferdinando II Statue from destruction, leaving it as a testament to the turbulent history of Naples.
Fontana delle Conchiglie
This unassuming fountain, the Fontana delle Conchiglie, holds a secret. It wasn’t always meant to stand alone. Built in 1938