Fuente de Orfeo

The Fuente de Orfeo was a historic fountain in Habsburg-era Madrid that, until its demolition in 1869, defined the Plaza de la Provincia. Its construction was planned in the late 17th century under the supervision of the architect Juan Gómez de Mora and completed in 1618. The fountain consisted of an octagonal basin decorated with four royal and four municipal coats of arms, as well as a central marble sculpture of Orpheus with his dog. This figure, originally created by Rutilio Gaci, gives the monument its name and for a long time served as a striking landmark of the square, which was dominated by the old Cárcel de Corte.

Today, only a replica of the Orpheus statue recalls the original fountain; it has stood since 1998 on a new installation in the Plaza de la Provincia. This modern composition combines various remnants of fountains from the 19th century. The original marble sculpture can be seen in Madrid's Museo Arqueológico, where you can admire the artful depiction of the mythical singer. A historic photograph from 1864 in the archive of the Museo de Historia de Madrid also documents the condition of the fountain shortly before its destruction and offers a glimpse into city life of that era.