Font d'Hèrcules

The Font d'Hèrcules is a historic sculptural monument in Barcelona's Gràcia district, located at the intersection of Passeig de Sant Joan and Carrer de Còrsega. As the oldest surviving original statue of public art in Barcelona, it is considered an important cultural landmark. The work was created between 1797 and 1802 by Josep Moret, based on a design by Salvador Gurri. The fountain originally stood on the Paseo de la Explanada in front of the Citadel fortress, where it was part of a series of four fountains depicting mythical figures.

The central figure shows the demigod hero Hercules in a neoclassical pose with late Baroque touches. He is depicted nude, leaning on his club, with the skin of the Nemean Lion draped over his left arm. The composition is modeled on the famous Farnese Hercules. Originally, two water-spouting lions flanked the statue, while a medallion with portraits of King Charles IV and his consort Maria Luisa of Parma commemorated the royal inauguration in 1802. After the grounds were redesigned as the Citadel park and the old boulevard disappeared in the course of the 1888 World's Fair, the site lost its significance.

In 1928, the fountain was moved to its current spot at the upper end of Passeig de Sant Joan, where it still stands today. The monument has been preserved almost unchanged; only a historic plaque about the old Paseo de la Explanada is missing. Here you can admire an impressive example of Baroque and neoclassical sculpture in an urban setting, one that reflects the history of the city's water supply.