Triton Fountain in Nysa

The Triton Fountain in Nysa is one of the city’s best-known historic landmarks. It stands where the Market Square meets Bracka and Celna Streets. This Baroque sculpture is an easy stop on a walk through the “Silesian Rome”, for photographs and a short introduction to the city’s history.

A Baroque marble fountain

The fountain was made in 1700–1701 from Sławniowice marble. Its design refers to Bernini’s Roman Triton Fountain, but it is not an exact copy. It has a small and a large basin, a central shaft and a balustrade. At the top, Triton, the sea god, appears in a shell supported by four dolphins facing different directions.

The S.P.Q.N. inscription

The fountain bears Nysa’s coat of arms and the inscription S.P.Q.N., short for “Senatus Populusque Nissiensis”, or “the senate and people of Nysa”. This reference to the Roman S.P.Q.R. highlighted the status of Nysa, once the seat of the Wrocław bishops. It is more than a market decoration: it records the city’s historic ambition and culture.

Visiting and nearby sights

The fountain is in open public space and can be viewed free of charge, without a reservation or fixed visiting hours. Combine it with the Market Square, the Basilica of Saints James and Agnes, the Beautiful Well and Nysa Fortress. Water operation may depend on weather and maintenance, so check current local tourism information before travelling.