The Plaza de Cibeles is an attractive square featuring a beautiful sculpture and fountains that have been adopted as a symbol for the city of Madrid, Spain. The fountain of Cibeles is found in the part of Madrid commonly called the Paseo de Recoletos. It depicts the Phrygian goddess of fertility Cibeles who is seen sitting on a chariot and being pulled by two lions. On one side of the fountain of Cibeles, the Paseo de Recoletos starts, heading north to join up with the Paseo de la Castellana. On the other side, the Paseo del Prado begins and heads off south, towards the fountain of Neptune, in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, and on until Atocha. The Cibeles fountain was built in the reign of Charles (Carlos) III and designed by Ventura Rodríguez between 1777 and 1782. The goddess and chariot are the work of Francisco Gutiérrez and the lions by Roberto Michel. The fountain of Cibeles has been adopted by the football team Real Madrid, and is often the meeting point for fans and the football players when the team win a trophy.
