Rare are the cases where artworks depicting the devil are publicly showcased in places teeming with visitors. After all, in a world long shaped by religious influence, any display that could be seen as reverence for demonic beings has been widely discouraged. That is, unless you are talking about the Jardins de Laribal in Barcelona, where a sculpted figure of Satan serves as a quirky fountain, whose origins remain steeped in mystery.
By: Omri Westmark
Date: 22:39 18.02.25
Last Update: 22:40 18.02.25
While Barcelona boasts hundreds of ornate fountains in various styles, sizes, and materials, many of which go unnoticed, nestled in the city’s southern part, Jardins de Laribal is a terraced garden atop Montjuïc Hill, adorned with lush greenery, cascading water features, and charming pergolas, along with a few hidden fountains for those who look closely.
Arguably the most famous of them all, Font del Gat is a historic fountain known for its distinctive cat-shaped spout. Once a beloved gathering place for local poets and artists, it even inspired the Catalan song La Marieta de l’ull viu. Though the feline monument remains a favorite among visitors, it has a far more sinister sibling that has long stayed in the shadows.
Near one of the park’s smaller entrances, across from the Catalan Museum of Archaeology, Font de Satanàs (Satan’s Fountain) is as unsettling as its name suggests. Sculpted into a stairway, its ghastly stone face, hollow-eyed, brow furrowed, mouth twisted into a cryptic grin, lets water trickle into a semicircular pool. Legends and superstitions swirl around its chilling presence, making it an intriguing curiosity for visitors.
The origins of Font de Satanàs remain shrouded in mystery, with no definitive records of its creator or intent. Yet, that hasn’t stopped Barcelonians from weaving dark legends around its eerie visage. Others, however, see it as merely a whimsical example of early 20th-century garden ornamentation. Like many elements of the park, the fountain was part of the extensive landscaping for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
