Piazza Unità d'Italia in Trieste is one of the largest squares in Europe. It is considered the beating heart of the city and is surrounded by splendid historic buildings, including the Town Hall, the Government Palace and the Lloyd Triestino building. On the opposite side the square offers a spectacular view of the Adriatic Sea.
In 1750, Giovanni Mazzoleni built the Fontana dei quattro continenti (fountain of the four continents) on the Piazza Grande. The statues on the fountain represent the then four known continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The fountain marked the end of the Aqueduct Acquedotto Teresiano, built under Maria Theresia, which supplied water to the newly created Borgo Teresiano commercial district. On the occasion of the visit of Benito Mussolini, the fountain was moved in 1938 to the lapidary of the city. Only in 1970 he was rebuilt in the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia.