Fuente De La Alcachofa And Estación Del Arte, Line 1 Metro Madrid, Spain Royalty-Free Stock Photo

The Atocha station, now named Estación del Arte, symbolises the Madrids eternal welcoming spirit. The iron heart of Madrid was the first train station to be built in the city in 1851. Its huge central nave, an excellent example of late-nineteenth-century iron architecture, has become an icon of the capital. The Alcachofa Fountain features some of the most characteristic baroque motifs, including marine deities, plants and water, as an indispensable element for life. At the top of the fountain an artichoke can be seen, a plant much appreciated for its medicinal properties and culinary use. Flanking a round base, a triton and a nereid are holding up the city’s coat of arms.