Controversial reconstruction of Hercules Fountain at Venaria Reale sparks debate

The reconstruction of the Hercules Fountain in the park of the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale, part of a grand restoration program begun in 1998, has sparked criticism. Architect Donatella D'Angelo, in a blog post on Il Fatto Quotidiano (June 25, 2022), called it a reconstruction rather than a restoration. The fountain, designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte and built between 1669 and 1672, was damaged during the French siege of Turin in 1706, then dismantled and buried by 1751. Archaeological excavations between 2003 and 2005 uncovered the nymphaeum, but exposure to elements caused rapid decay. Instead of reburying or protecting the ruins, authorities opted for a full reconstruction: a new basin, a hi-tech pedestal for the Hercules statue, copies of telamons from Govone Castle, and replacements in acrylic resin and calcium sulfate. The €3.5 million project (over €1 million from Art Bonus) was criticized on social media as a historical fake, compared to Disneyland or Las Vegas. Critics note missing elements like the hydra, and water now spurts from the pedestal. The author contrasts this with the Colosseum arena reconstruction (€18 million), which aims to refunctionalize the space for events, arguing reconstructions should serve social reintegration, not aesthetic spectacle.