Fuente de los Galápagos — Attraction in Madrid

Located in Parque Retiro is this lovely fountain commissioned by Ferdinand VII to commemorate the first birthday of Princess Isabella. The fountain stands amongst the many great monuments, statues, other fountains and just the general beautiful green space of the park.

The fountain shows three fairies offering their gifts to the princess and the sculpture reflects good wishes for the future queen. Just below that are four children, playfully riding on dolphin, each representing the virtues the king wished upon the princess, that of intelligence, wisdom and prudence; the marine elements represent fertility. The name of the fountain is in reference to the Galápagos tortoises around the base symbolising longevity.

Worth seeing if...

Also known as Isabella II Fountain, it was commissioned by Ferdinand VII to commemorate the first anniversary of the birth of Princess Isabella. Like the Fountain of the Artichoke, it was moved to its current location from another part of the city. Originally constructed in the Red de San Luis in 1832, it was moved in 1879 to Glorieta de Nicaragua in Retiro Park.

The fountain features three fairies offering their gifts to the princess, symbolizing good wishes for the future queen. The dolphins, ridden by four children, are associated with intelligence, wisdom, and prudence. The marine elements at the base of the fountain represent fertility, as water is the source of all life, while the Galápagos tortoises...

A simple fountain located towards the north west side of the Retiro park and that is also at the end of the path if you enter from the ‘Puerta Real’ entrance. There are basically young boys sitting or wrestling big seemingly big fish (especially compared to the boys) with frogs around them towards the bottom. Around the fountain were also pretty flowers of different colors such as yellow, purple, and a bit of...