Font del Geni Català, Neoclassical fountain in Ciutat Vella, Spain
Font del Geni Català is a neoclassical marble fountain in the heart of the old city, crowned with a winged male figure holding a five-pointed star. Four female statues surround the central sculpture, forming a unified artistic composition.
The fountain was created in 1856 by architect Francesc Daniel Molina to honor the Marquis of Campo Sagrado for his water management contributions to Barcelona. It stands in a location that became a cultural center of the city over the following decades.
The fountain displays four female figures representing Catalan provinces, embodying regional identity at this location. These representations reflect how local people connect with their land and its geographical divisions.
The fountain is located in Pla de Palau in the old city and is easily reached on foot from major sites nearby. Visitors should come during daylight hours to best see the sculptural details and water features in good light.
The central male figure underwent several anatomical changes due to religious concerns and was restored multiple times between 1980 and 2008. These restorations show how changing social values affected the preservation of the artwork over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
