Fonte Aretusa - Arethusa Fountain

The Fonte Aretusa is one of the highlights in Ortigia, the historical centre of Syracuse, a freshwater spring that's studded with wild papyrus. According to legend the Arcadian nymph Arethusa, a handmaiden of the goddess Artemis, fled underwater through the Mediterranean Sea from Greece to Sicily. She wanted to escape the persistent advances of Alpheus, God of Rivers, who was madly in love with her. Arethusa asked Artemis for help and the goddess transformed her into the freshwater spring we can see today. Alpheus left his home, the river Alfeios on the Peloponnese in Greece, and followed her. According to one legend Alpheus is still trying to find his Arethusa in the Med, according to another he located his love and mixed his own waters with hers.