Plaza de Cibeles

The fountain that now presides over the square was meant for somewhere else. It was conceived for the gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso, but in 1782 it ended up installed beside the Palacio de Buenavista, at the northern end of the Salón del Prado, within the layout of the Paseo del Prado. Water began to flow in 1792. It was designed by Ventura Rodríguez, the city’s Master Builder, and carved by several hands: Francisco Gutiérrez cut the goddess and the chariot wheels, Roberto Michel sculpted the lions. Cybele appears in the classical manner, with a mural crown and sceptre. For over a century the fountain stayed tucked to one side; in 1895 it was moved to the centre of the square, with the goddess facing Calle de Alcalá. The crossing had its own name before the present one. From 1900 it was called Plaza de Castelar, after the liberal politician, though that name never caught on. Common speech kept saying Cibeles, and in 1941 the city gave in to habit.