Fountain of Orpheus, Madrid, Public fountain in Plaza de la Provincia, Madrid, Spain

The Fountain of Orpheus sits in Plaza de la Provincia and features a central statue with detailed sculptures and water elements surrounding it. The Madrid coat of arms is prominently displayed as part of the composition.

The original fountain was commissioned on 9 May 1617 by Gaspar Ordóñez for 1,550 ducats, built to a design by Juan Gómez de Mora and finished in January 1618. It stood until its demolition in 1869, when the marble Orpheus went to the Archaeological Museum. The present fountain, assembled from 19th-century fountain remains and topped by a replica of the Orpheus, was placed in Plaza de la Provincia in 1998.

The marble Orpheus that topped the original fountain is kept in the Museo Arqueológico de Madrid, while the replica in the plaza is a modern replacement. The figure was long read as Orpheus with his dog, and a satirical quatrain attributed to the Count of Villamediana mocked the statue facing the Cárcel de Corte. Tirso de Molina also drew on the fountain for verses in his Romance al Río Manzanares.

The fountain is accessible by public transportation and sits in an area filled with restaurants and shops within easy walking distance. The surrounding neighborhood offers plenty to explore on foot.

The Orpheus statue that crowned the original fountain is now kept in the Museo Arqueológico de Madrid, while the figure on the square is a replica. The original marble was attributed to Rutilio Gaci by Madoz and Ponz. A 1864 photograph in the Museo de Historia de Madrid archive shows the fountain shortly before its demolition.