Piazza Duomo

The Piazza Duomo in the city of Catania, Sicily, is located in Cathedral Square. The square has a Vaccarini fountain in the middle built in 1736. The Catañese call this fountain "Elephant Fountain" for the elephant that has been carved in it and it has become the affectionate symbol of the city. The fountain represents three civilizations: the Punic, Egyptian and Christian. The elephant itself symbolizes the defeat of the Carthaginians who arrived to conquer the island on the back of huge elephants. The Egyptian obelisk holding the elephant, made of Syene granite with hieroglyphics concerning the cult of Isis, represents the Egyptian civilization.