Many places in Riga have their own unique history, and the Nymph Fountain has a love story that became legendary. The famous Riga sculptor August Volz created his masterpiece in 1887, near the building that today is the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
In 1882, a major fire broke out in the then still "German" theatre, and the building was rebuilt until 1890. August Volz was responsible for the interior decoration, and he was also the one who conceived the design of a marvelous fountain with a nude nymph, which was supposed to stand in front of the theatre. Suddenly, for some reason, work on the fountain began to drag on for a rather indecently long time. No one could understand what was wrong with the architect, why such a punctual and responsible person had suddenly stopped meeting the established deadlines.
It turned out that Volz had fallen in love with his model, did not want to part with her, and therefore simply could not finish the work. But in the end he did complete the construction of the fountain, and the model became his wife. Although there is a less romantic version - supposedly the model was already his wife at the time the sculpture was created.
The Nymph Fountain is a statue of a nude girl holding a shell above her head with water splashing out of it. At the nymph's feet sit children, and nearby you can also see a dolphin and a turtle. A very beautiful sculpture, one of the most graceful in Riga, an essential stop on any tour.
