Lucrezia La Spina
Lucrezia La Spina is an elderly mermaid originally from Catania, a historic city on the eastern coast of Sicily, famous for its proximity to Mount Etna. At some point in her life, she moved to Naples, on the mainland of Italy, to be close to her children – a testament to her maternal devotion. She runs a modest bar in Naples, a place where Sawa and Mewa stop to quench their thirst after visiting the enigmatic La Fontana Della Sirena. Physically, she is not described in any detail – we do not know her hair colour, tail colour, or build – but we do learn that her foreign language skills are rather poor, which makes communication with the Polish sisters somewhat halting and comedic. She is the sister of Luciano La Spina, the archaeologist, and the aunt of Luca. When Sawa asks her about the mythological sculptures surrounding the fountain, Lucrezia honestly admits her ignorance but immediately offers a helpful suggestion: she directs the sisters to her brother in Sicily, who might know more. This simple act of redirection sends Sawa and Mewa on a further adventure southward. Lucrezia embodies the warm, practical, and family‑oriented spirit of southern Italian mermaids – a grandmotherly figure who, despite her linguistic limitations, does her best to assist her foreign guests.
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