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Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall — Caserta
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Fountains, Squares and Bridges 📍 Caserta, Italy 248 views

Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall

At the end of the park dominated by the Great Waterfall (it is 82m high), there is a large water basin adorned with the famous group of Diana and Actaeon, sculpted by Paolo Persico, Pietro Solari and Angelo Brunelli. On one side is Diana, the goddess of hunting and of the woods (...

Photo · Lara M.

Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall — Caserta, Italy.

Location
Caserta
Type
Fountains, Squares and Bridges
Opening hours
Weather now
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About Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall

Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall - Caserta | Secret World Trip Planner

At the end of the park dominated by the Great Waterfall (it is 82m high), there is a large water basin adorned with the famous group of Diana and Actaeon, sculpted by Paolo Persico, Pietro Solari and Angelo Brunelli. On one side is Diana, the goddess of hunting and of the woods (it is no coincidence that the area behind is that of the Bosco di San Silvestro), surrounded by nymphs ready to dive into the water, on the other side is Actaeon, who having dared to look at Diana in her nudity, and in revenge she transforms him into a deer that later will be mauled by his own dogs.

Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall - Caserta | Secret World Trip Planner

Among the sculptural groups roars loudly the great waterfall, as a symbol of life and purification. The cult of Diana was very popular in the area of Caserta, rich in forests and wild animals. To her, in fact, with the name of Tifatina, there was dedicated a temple on whose ruins was built the basilica of Sant'Angelo in Formis.

Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall - Caserta | Secret World Trip Planner
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    Diana and Actaeon fountain and waterfall
    📍 Caserta
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    📍 0.7 km away
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Frequently Asked Questions

The famous sculptural group was created by three talented artists: Paolo Persico, Pietro Solari, and Angelo Brunelli. Their work depicts the mythological story of Diana and Actaeon in a large water basin at the end of the park's Great Waterfall.
The sculpture depicts the Greek myth where Actaeon sees Diana bathing nude, and as punishment, Diana transforms him into a deer that is subsequently attacked by his own hunting dogs. Diana is shown on one side surrounded by nymphs preparing to dive into the water, while Actaeon appears on the other side of the basin.
The Great Waterfall, which dramatically roars behind the sculptural groups, stands at an impressive height of 82 meters. This powerful waterfall serves as a symbolic representation of life and purification within the park's landscape.
The cult of Diana was extremely popular in the Caserta region due to its abundance of forests and wild animals, making her the perfect deity for this hunting-rich landscape. In fact, a temple dedicated to Diana Tifatina once stood in the area, and its ruins later became the foundation for the basilica of Sant'Angelo in Formis.
The Diana and Actaeon fountain is strategically positioned at the end of the park near the Bosco di San Silvestro forest, which is no coincidence—the woodland setting perfectly complements the mythological imagery of Diana as the goddess of hunting and the woods. This natural backdrop enhances the thematic unity of the sculptural group with its surrounding environment.

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