The Fountain of the Palio del Golfo
La Spezia, Italy, is a place rich in history, architectural beauty, religious tradition and maritime heritage. One of its latest modern attractions is the Palio del Golfo Artwork—a work that pays homage to the rich local culture and traditions, while also pointing toward the future.
Jenna Richter
The Palio del Golfo Artwork stands as a remarkable artistic and architectural piece in La Spezia, Italy, seamlessly blending the city’s rich maritime traditions with innovative modern design.
Designed by architect Enrico Pontello in collaboration with the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, this striking monument pays homage to the city’s maritime and spiritual traditions, while serving as a symbolic gateway to La Spezia.
Pontello, founder of Pontello Architecture and Engineering, is the architect responsible for both the design and execution of the fountain. Working alongside Maco Technology, Pontello transformed a traditional boat race celebration into a groundbreaking tensegrity sculpture.
Pontello’s vision and design successfully merged cultural heritage with cutting-edge engineering, creating a landmark that honors local maritime tradition while pushing boundaries in architectural design through the pioneering use of inflated steel.
OARS OF TRADITION
At the heart of the fountain’s design are thirteen radial oars crafted from blown stainless steel, each representing one of the villages surrounding the Gulf of Poets. These elements form the structural backbone of the monument, arranged in a precise geometric pattern that creates a compelling sense of movement and rhythm.
Each oar is meticulously positioned to point toward its respective community, creating a sophisticated radial symmetry that draws viewers’ gazes inward toward the central axis.
Pontello’s choice of blown stainless steel proves masterful from both technical and aesthetic perspectives. The material’s durability addresses the practical challenges of a seaside installation, while its reflective properties transform the static structure into a dynamic visual experience. The steel surfaces interact with changing light conditions throughout the day, creating subtle variations in appearance that echo the shifting waters of the Gulf.
It’s a visual metaphor that resonates with local history. The monument commemorates the Palio del Golfo, an iconic rowing competition that has been at the heart of La Spezia for almost a century. Taking place every August, the event draws together the villages surrounding the Gulf for an exciting and fiercely competitive race, celebrating the community’s spirit and its strong connection to the sea.
The fountain’s design evokes the form of traditional Palio boats, with oars extending outward from a central point. The result is a structure that appears animated even in stillness, capturing the energy and motion of the rowing competition it celebrates. Each oar is engraved with the number of its corresponding village, symbolizing unity amidst competition.
FOCAL POINTS
The fountain’s physical form incorporates several significant architectural techniques. The precise alignment of each oar creates strong sightlines that establish visual relationships between the monument and its surroundings. This careful positioning creates a purposeful dialogue with both the Cathedral and the nearby fountains of Piazza Europa facing the local City Hall.
As evening falls, strategic lighting transforms the steel structure into a luminous focal point, emphasizing its geometric form through the interplay of light and shadow. This nocturnal transformation effectively creates two distinct but complementary architectural experiences depending on the time of viewing.
The fountain also stands as a bridge between the sacred and the secular, reflecting the city’s successful balance of tradition and modernity. From a structural perspective, the fountain exemplifies how modern materials can be manipulated to achieve both aesthetic and engineering goals.
The stainless steel components are engineered to maintain their integrity despite exposure to marine conditions while simultaneously creating the desired visual effect. The engineering required to achieve this balance between form and function represents a significant technical achievement.
In its execution, the design demonstrates how architecture can successfully navigate the tension between innovation and tradition. The clean, modern lines and industrial materials represent contemporary design sensibilities, while the underlying concept remains deeply rooted in local heritage. This balance allows the structure to feel both fresh and meaningfully connected to its context.
DEEP CONNECTIONS
Its thoughtful placement also establishes a visual and symbolic bridge to the immediately adjacent Cathedral of Christ the King, designed by Adalberto Libera, linking the city’s seafaring identity with its religious center. The fountain tells an intimate story of faith tradition by creating a meaningful connection to the nearby cathedral, a symbol of the city’s tradition of faith and devotion.
The fountain’s design is a beautiful reflection of the Cathedral’s grandeur, standing tall and proud above the city. The vision created a piece that mirrors the Cathedrals powerful presence, both spiritually and physically, in the heart of the city. Both works use numerical representation and natural light to connect physical structures with deeper cultural meanings. It’s as though the fountain quietly bridges the two worlds, linking the sea with the spiritual heart of La Spezia.
With durable steel structure, the fountain echoes the enduring nature of faith and the lasting impact of the Cathedral’s mission within the community. It’s as if the fountain itself serves as a testament to the city’s devotion and the sacred role of the Cathedral plays in its life.
The oars radial design reflects the Christian idea of unity in diversity, with each oar representing a unique part, yet all working together as one. J
FORM & MEANING
This architectural parallel captures not only La Spezia’s maritime heritage but embodies the collective identity that has united these competing villages for generations around the Palio del Golfo tradition. It’s a powerful reminder that, no matter how different each village may be, they are all united by their faith and their shared community.
It’s a beautiful symbol of how the people of La Spezia, while deeply connected to their earthly traditions, are ultimately united by their faith. Much like the Cathedral’s towering spires, the fountain uses light to enhance the emotional and even spiritual experience of anyone who sees it.
The light it gives off, much like that of the Cathedral, helps light the way for all who seek it, whether they’re coming in from the sea or walking toward the Cathedral. It’s a quiet yet powerful reminder of the guiding presence that connects both land and spirit.
Just like the Cathedral itself, the fountain offers a quiet spot for reflection, inviting anyone who passes by to stop admire and contemplate. The close relationship between these two monumental landmarks creates a unique space where the city’s deep faith and rich cultural heritage are on full display.
For the casual passerby, the fountain offers a quiet moment for anyone to pause, whether they’re looking for spiritual reflection or simply soaking in the beauty of the city. It’s a space where both the faithful and those curious can connect with the very soul of La Spezia.
For residents and visitors alike, the Fountain of the Palio del Golfo stands as an essential landmark that captures the soul of La Spezia, a city where maritime traditions, spiritual devotion, and architectural innovation unite to create a unique cultural identity.
Jenna Richter holds an Honours degree in Journalism and brings two years of diverse writing experience to her work. She has contributed to numerous feature pieces and currently serves as a press representative for Pontello Architecture and Engineering, where she translates complex design concepts into compelling narratives for the public and media.