Plaza de Neptuno

The Fuente de Neptuno is on Paseo del Prado. Under the orders of King Charles III, Juan Pascual de Mena began to build this marble statue in 1780. In 1786 his disciple José Rodríguez finished off the project. The figure is standing on a chariot, drawn by two sea horses and surrounded by dolphins. Near the Plaza de Neptuno there are many of the city’s symbolic buildings, such as the Palace Hotel, Palacio de Villahermosa, Museo del Prado, the Ritz Hotel, the Congreso de los Diputados and, in the background, San Jerónimo el Real church.