Suare 1° May and the fountain of mermaids

Since the forties, Square 1° May also commonly known as "The Mermaids Square", the name comes from the beautiful and recently restored fountain, that today, like in the past dominates the middle of the square. The original sculpture commissioned in 1928 to the artist Giuseppe Casalini of Forli, reproduces the draped bodies of three voluptuous mermaids in a seductive setting. The Mermaid fountain was destined to envelop the tourist spirit of the town and was positioned where in the 1800's there once stood a health infirmary and customs office during times of war.

The square marked the meeting place of all the old lanes made over the years by fishermen going the sea. The town's tourist growth always moved around Mermaid Square and was a popular destination for an evening stroll or occasional gatherings and meetings. The current look of Piazza Primo Maggio is the fruit of the refurbishment carried out in 1992, which saw the entire surrounding area redesigned. Created around the Mermaids Fountain is a pedestrian area which leads the visitor towards an elegant garden enriched by fountains and flower beds.

After having comfortably parked your vehicle under the square's underground car-park you can relax under the shade of the rich vegetation which shelters you from the heat of a hot summer's day. An excellent open air stage with imposing stairways welcomes concerts and shows of all kinds throughout the year and numerous bars and cafes can be found almost one after another. Particularly in the summer season the evenings in Cattolica are lit up with colour thanks to the particular effect of the dancing fountains which in a show of light and water move to the notes of a Viennese waltz or to a symphony by Rossini.