Festival Pavilion

Crescent Gardens caught my eye as I was passing, and I felt compelled to take a closer look. The pavilion at the centre houses a white marble statue carved by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Benzoni. The statue was originally created for the Spa Rooms Gardens in the 1870s, but was placed in storage in 1958 after the gardens were removed. After almost 30 years, it was rediscovered and ultimately installed here in 1989. The statue depicts Cupid and Psyche, two winged figures who appear to be in an embrace. The design represents the union of love (Cupid) and the soul (Psyche).