Cibeles Fountain, curiosities from the history of the great icon of Madrid

If I ask you to highlight a icon monument of Madrid, you may cite the Fountain of Cibeles.

Indeed, this beautiful font is associated with the image of the Madrid worldwide.

And if you don't know her yet, I'll tell you that when you see her in front of the majestic Cibeles Palace building, it will not disappoint you.

Located in the center of Cibeles, it is undoubtedly the main monumental jewel of this square that, together with the Puerta del Sol and Puerta de Alcalá, is the best known in Madrid.

Curiosities history Fountain of Cibeles

But you may not know that in its origins the Fountain of Cibeles It was not in this location.

What's more, it seems that it was initially designed to be installed in the Gardens of the San Ildefonso Farm, riding a Segovia.

Within the great remodeling and modernization of Madrid that in the second half of the 18th century undertaken by the king Carlos III after returning from his reign in Nápoles, Fountain of Cibeles It was completed in 1781.

Then he settled in Cibeles, Along the Buenavista Palace, current headquarters of Army Headquarters, oriented towards the nearby Neptune Fountain, which you find in the current Cánovas del Castillo square.

In a way these are two sources sisters, since both were designed at the same time by the architect Ventura Rodriguez.

In the Fountain of Cibeles is shown at goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by two lions, which actually represent mythological characters.

During its history I would highlight that it was in 1895 when the fountain was moved to the center of the square.

And, on the other hand, perhaps you have the image of the Fountain of Cibeles protected during Civil War through a mountain of sandbags.

Finally, this historical parallelism between fountains of Cybele and Neptune is also transferred to the present, since both monuments are places of football fans quote.

Fans Real Madrid celebrate their successes Cybele fountain, and those of Atletico Madrid, in that of Neptuno.