Obelisco de la Fuente Castellana

The Obelisco de la Fuente Castellana is a stone obelisk featuring a tall granite column with bronze decorations including sun and moon reliefs, topped by a bronze polar star. The monument stands between the Praga Bridge and Arganzuela Bridge in Madrid Rio Park near the left bank of the Manzanares River.

Fernando VII commissioned the obelisk in 1833 to commemorate the birth of his daughter Isabel II, with construction completed in 1838. The site was later transformed into a garden space, reshaping how the public engaged with this royal memorial.

The base displays sculptural groups representing the royal coat of arms of Isabel II alongside Madrid's symbolic bear and strawberry tree, reflecting local identity and royal connections.

The site sits directly in Madrid Rio Park, an accessible green space along the river that is easy to reach on foot. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when sunlight highlights the bronze details and sculptural elements.

Two bronze sphinxes that originally functioned as water fountains were relocated to Retiro Park in 1869 when the monument was transformed into a garden setting. This relocation reflects how the site's purpose and appearance shifted over time.

Location: Arganzuela

Inception: 1833

Creator: Francisco Javier de Marietegui, José Tomás

GPS coordinates: 40.39741,-3.70903

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:45