Neptune Fountain

The Neptune Fountain is on Paseo del Prado. Under the orders of King Carlos III, sculptor Juan Pascual de Mena began to build this marble statue in 1780. In 1786 his disciple José Arias finished off the project, which represents Neptune, God of the Sea, with a trident in one hand and a coiled snake in the other. The figure is standing on a chariot, drawn by two sea horses and surrounded by dolphins.

Near the Neptune Fountain, where the victories of Atlético de Madrid Football Club are celebrated, there are many of the city’s symbolic buildings, such as the Palace hotel, Villahermosa Palace, the Prado Museum, the Ritz hotel, the Congreso de los Diputados (House of Commons) and in the background, San Jerónimo el Real church.