Fuente de los Galápagos, Decorative fountain in El Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain
Fuente de los Galápagos is a tiered fountain in El Retiro Park featuring water that cascades down three distinct levels. Stone children ride dolphins on the upper section while tortoises and frogs decorate the lower tiers, all carved by sculptor José Tomás.
The fountain was created in 1831 to celebrate Princess Isabella's birth and originally stood at Red de San Luis. It was relocated to El Retiro Park in 1879, where it has remained a fixture of the landscape ever since.
The name references the Galapagos tortoises shown in the sculpture, creating a sense of distant exploration. Visitors often pause to watch how families and children interact with the cascading water and animal figures displayed across the levels.
The fountain is accessible daily starting at 6 AM and can be reached through the Retiro metro station. It sits in a central location within the park, making it easy to visit alongside other attractions nearby.
The tortoises adorning this fountain were the first bronze pieces cast in Madrid, marking an important milestone in local metalworking. Few visitors know that this work helped establish Madrid as a center for bronze casting techniques.
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