Fountain of Diana, Archimedes Square

The fresh water spring or Fonte Aretusa Fountain is just a few meters from the sea. The water basin is set with stones and framed by papyrus.
According to legend, the Greek nymph Arethusa, with the help of the goddess Artemis, turned into a spring to escape the pursuits of a hunter and sprang from Ortigia. The hunter Alpheios then turned into a river and, without mingling with the sea, reached the island Ortigia to unite with Arethusa.
In antiquity, the nymph enjoyed great veneration, because the source made possible the founding of the city and resistance to enemy sieges. As a symbol of the city, Arethusa's head adorned the coins of Syracuse, which for several centuries were among the most important currencies of the Greek world. The water actually flows underwater under the harbor bay. (Source: Wikipedia)

However, the actual fresh water source is not at this fountain, but further south, directly by the sea.

Fascinatingly, this interesting source of fresh water springs exactly on the shores of the sea. This extraordinary phenomenon has influenced the actual founding of the city (which was originally also due to the existence of this source on the island of Ortygia) and inspired the human imagination that made it famous in legends and literature for centuries.