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Welcome to my "Fuente de Neptuno" description page, for photos & videos of this site click --> HERE.

You can find the Neptune Fountain in the "Plaza de Canovas de Castillo" in front of the Museo Thyssen Bornemizsa.

 

The fountain was designed by Ventura Rodríguez (he also designed the Fuente de la Cibeles) and sculpted by Juan de Mena. 

 

In this work we see Neptune, the god of the sea (AKA Poseidon) standing proudly on a shell-shaped chariot being pulled by sea-horses. Neptune created the horse during his struggle with Minerva to rule Athens. Jupiter proclaimed that the one who created the most useful object for use by mankind would be given reign over the city. Minerva then created the olive tree (symbol of peace & the exact opposite of the horse, symbol of war) and hence she was declared ruler of Athens over Neptune.

Standing tall and wielding his trident, Neptune took up residence in the Plaza de Canovas de Castillo in 1780 after being commissioned by King Carlos III.

Fuente de Neptuno - jeremy's practical info

(you can click on the icons to see the line trajectories and a map of the metro)

Metro stop: Sol - lines , , .

 

Getting there: From The Puerta del Sol, walk east down the Carrera de San Jerónimo. About a 3 minute walk from the Sol on your left hand side across from the Palace Hotel you will see EL Congreso de los Diputados (The Congress Building). The Neptune Fountain is another minutes walk straight ahead in the center of the Plaza de Canovas de Castillo.