Triton Fountain in Nysa

The Triton Fountain in Nysa, located at the intersection of the market square and Bracka and Celna Streets, is one of the city's most valuable architectural monuments, built between 1700 and 1701. Inspired by Bernini's Triton Fountain in Rome, it was carved from Sławniowice marble by an unknown artist, representing mature Baroque style. Its structure features a large basin with a square plan and rounded corners, framed in a sarcophagus-like outline. The surrounding balustrade supports a balustrade that holds a shaft adorned with four dolphins gazing toward the four corners of the world. A heraldic element on the southern side, bearing the inscription SPQN 1701, references the Roman tradition of S.P.Q.R., transforming it into "Senatus Populusque Nissiensis," meaning "the senate and people of Nysa." At the top of the fountain, there is a shell-shaped bowl on which kneels Triton—a half-human, half-fish figure symbolizing peace and harmony. A smaller basin, connected to the main tank, has an elongated octagonal shape with relief-carved dolphins and shells. The fountain is not only an example of refined Baroque architecture but also symbolizes the rich history and cultural heritage of Nysa, which for centuries served as a bishopric center, justifying the city's motto "Silesian Rome." An interesting fact is that the inscription references Roman traditions, highlighting the region's deep cultural roots.