The Cibeles Fountain shows Cybele, the ancient goddess of the earth and fertility, riding a chariot pulled by two lions in the middle of Plaza de Cibeles, one of Madrid's busiest crossroads. Commissioned under King Charles III as part of his plan to beautify the capital, it has become one of the symbols of the city. It is also where Real Madrid fans and players gather to celebrate big trophies, which has cost the goddess more than one hand.
The Cibeles Fountain at a glance
- Where: in the centre of Plaza de Cibeles, where Calle de Alcalá meets the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos.
- Created: designed in 1777–1782 and installed in 1782; moved to the middle of the square in 1895.
- By: designed by the architect Ventura Rodríguez; the goddess and chariot were carved by Francisco Gutiérrez and the lions by the French sculptor Roberto Michel.
- What it is today: a monumental fountain surrounded by traffic, best seen from the pavements and from the roof terrace of the City Hall.
- Time needed: 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if you go up to the viewpoint.
From drinking fountain to city symbol
In the second half of the 18th century Charles III set out to give Madrid the look of a modern European capital. Along the Paseo del Prado he planned a sequence of neoclassical fountains with mythological themes, including Neptune and Apollo, together with what is now the Prado Museum and the Royal Botanical Garden. Ventura Rodríguez designed the Cibeles group as both ornament and public utility: water carriers and local residents drew drinking water from spouts at the fountain. It was installed in 1782, near the Buenavista Palace and facing the Neptune fountain.
In February 1895 the fountain was moved to the middle of the square, raised on a stepped platform and turned so that the goddess looks down the first stretch of Calle de Alcalá, a change that caused heated debate at the time. A group was added at the back. Over the following decades the buildings around the square went up: the Bank of Spain, the Palacio de Linares and the huge Palacio de Comunicaciones, today Madrid's City Hall. During the Spanish Civil War the fountain was encased to protect it from bombing.
What to look for
- The goddess Cybele, wearing a crown shaped like city walls and holding a sceptre and a key.
- The two lions pulling the chariot, which in Greek myth are Atalanta and Hippomenes, lovers turned into lions as punishment.
- The white marble of the goddess and lions, which comes from Montesclaros in the province of Toledo; the rest is in stone from Redueña, north of Madrid.
- The four grand buildings around the square: the City Hall, the Bank of Spain, the Buenavista Palace (army headquarters) and the Palacio de Linares (Casa de América).
- The basin, which now sits partly sunken because the ground level around it has been raised over the years.
Football and the goddess
Since the late 20th century Real Madrid has celebrated its titles at Cibeles, with players climbing up to drape a scarf and flag over the goddess while crowds fill the square; the Spain national team has celebrated here too. The celebrations have taken their toll. The goddess lost a hand in 1994 after a national team victory party, and lost a hand again on 21 September 2002. Today the city fences the fountain off and controls access during celebrations to protect it.
Tips for your visit
- Do not try to cross to the fountain itself: it sits on a roundabout with heavy traffic; the best views are from the corners of the square.
- For a view from above, go up to the viewpoint on the top of the City Hall (Palacio de Cibeles), which looks straight down on the goddess.
- Come at dusk, when the fountain and the surrounding palaces are lit up.
Nearby
- Puerta de Alcalá: Charles III's neoclassical gate, a few minutes' walk east along Calle de Alcalá.
- Prado Museum: Spain's great art museum, a short walk south along the Paseo del Prado.
- Neptune Fountain: Cibeles's partner fountain on the same boulevard, where Atlético Madrid fans celebrate.
- Retiro Park: Madrid's best-loved park, just beyond the Puerta de Alcalá.
See Madrid with World City Trail
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If you prefer a different format, Madrid also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
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Facts checked in October 2026.