Commissioned by Pope Pius IV in 1563, the fountain was fed by the waters of the Remonda spring originating in San Michele in Bosco. The square on which it stands was opened in 1564 after the demolition of some other buildings. The plumbing and architectural works are attributed to Tommaso Laureti, who also created the old Fountain on the north side of the Town Hall. The base features local boulders and the cladding is in Verona marble. The sculptural work, or the statue of the "Giant", as it is often referred to, together with the surrounding bronze figures, are the work of Jean de Boulogne, known as Giambologna, who worked there from 1563 to 1567.In 1605 the fountain area was fenced off by railings, with 4 smaller tanks placed at the corners. The complex has undergone periodic restoration, the most recent being in 2016.
Sources
Bologna. Atlante storico delle città italiane, a cura di Francesca Bocchi, vol. I, Bologna, Grafis Edizioni, 1996, pp. 173.
G. Benevolo, Nettuno Neptune. La fontana del Nettuno a Bologna, Bologna, Scripta Maneant, 2018.
M. Gaiani, Nettuno. La fontana: studio, progetto, restauro, Bologna, BUP, 2017.
About the fountain: http://nettuno.comune.bologna.it/storia/
Photo by Giorgio Bianchi