Five months of work have restored the splendour to the goddess Cibeles, who once again presides over the square in Madrid with her lions, sceptre, and the restored keys of the city.
The goddess Cibeles is back presiding over the heart of Madrid. The monumental fountain, one of the most universal symbols of the capital, reopened this Monday after a comprehensive rehabilitation that lasted five months and represented the most profound restoration of the ensemble since its construction in the 18th century.
The works, carried out by the Madrid City Council, included deep cleaning of the stone, replacement of damaged elements, and structural consolidation of the fountain. According to municipal sources, special attention was given to the sculptures of the goddess, the lions Hipómenes and Atalanta, and the chariot they pull.
The monument, designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1777, is part of the Landscape of Light, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout its nearly 250 years of history, the fountain has witnessed numerous urban, political, and social changes, and has undergone several emergency interventions due to acts of vandalism.
“This is the most ambitious refurbishment in recent decades. We have returned Cibeles to her original appearance, respecting the design of the 18th century,” said a spokesperson from the City Council's Culture department.
The rehabilitation also included the restoration of the keys of the city that the goddess holds in her left hand, as well as the sceptre in her right. Both elements had been replaced on previous occasions after suffering thefts and damage, the most notorious in 1994, when the aftermath of the World Cup in the United States caused the breakage of the arm and the keys.
In 2002, a new theft forced the replacement of the left hand of the sculpture. These episodes are now behind us with the current intervention, which has reinforced the fixation of the pieces to prevent future damage.
A History of Change and Resilience
The fountain has not always been in the centre of the square. Originally, it was located next to the Palacio de Buenavista, on one side of what is now the Plaza de Cibeles. With the growth of the city, it was moved to the centre of what was then called the Paseo de la Castellana. The Bank of Spain was not built until 1891, and the Palacio de Cibeles, now the City Hall, was not completed until 1919.
The regime change towards the Second Republic also left its mark: on April 14, 1931, the day of the proclamation, the sculpture lost its right hand and the keys. That destruction was the first of a series of incidents that have punctuated the history of the monument.
The current rehabilitation has been made possible thanks to an investment of 1.2 million euros, according to data from the City Council. The works have been supervised by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Community of Madrid, given the protected nature of the ensemble.
For the residents of the capital, the reopening means reclaiming one of their most emblematic meeting points. The Plaza de Cibeles is a place for celebrating sporting triumphs, especially those of Real Madrid, and a stage for civic gatherings and official events.
“It’s a relief to see it complete again. It’s part of our history,” commented a resident of the Salamanca district while admiring the restored fountain.
The City Council has announced that the fountain will be specially illuminated over the coming weeks so that both locals and tourists can enjoy the results of the restoration. Additionally, low-consumption LED lighting has been installed to highlight the sculptural details without damaging the stone.
The rehabilitation of Cibeles is part of the conservation plan for the monuments of the Landscape of Light, which also includes the fountains of Neptune and Apollo, both located on the Paseo del Prado. These two latter fountains are pending similar interventions in the coming years.
With the reopening, Madrid recovers not only a monument but a symbol of the city's identity. The goddess Cibeles, with her turriform crown and her lions, once again takes the pulse of the capital's heart.
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