Plaça dels Estels

Plaça dels Estels is one of the most recognizable squares in central Alicante, known locally almost as often by its nickname Plaça dels Cavalls (Square of the Horses) and by its Spanish name, Plaza de los Luceros. It sits at the meeting point of several of the city's main streets, and its striking fountain has served as a landmark for both residents and visitors for decades.

Where is the square and how do you get there?

Plaça dels Estels lies right in the heart of Alicante, roughly 450 metres from the city's main railway station. Because of this central position, the square works as a natural transfer point and orientation marker — several important streets radiate outward from it, leading both toward the old town and toward the newer districts of the city.

Where does the square's current name come from?

The naming history of this square is unusually turbulent and mirrors the shifting political landscape of 20th-century Spain. In 1908 it was named Plaza de la Independencia, commemorating the centenary of Spanish resistance against Napoleonic forces. In 1934 the city council renamed it Plaza de Cataluña. It was only in the early 1940s that the square took on the name it carries today, Plaça dels Estels — literally "Square of the Stars."

What is the centerpiece of the square?

The heart of Plaça dels Estels is a monumental fountain designed by local sculptor Daniel Bañuls Martínez, completed around 1930–1931. It is this fountain that gave rise to the square's popular nickname, Plaça dels Cavalls: the lower section of the composition features four imposing horses symbolizing strength and movement. Rising above them is an obelisk decorated with four female figures representing the Hesperides, the mythological guardians of the golden apples from Greek legend. The combination of dynamic animal sculpture with classicizing female figures makes this fountain one of the most distinctive pieces of public sculpture in all of Alicante.

What role does the square play in city life?

Plaça dels Estels has long functioned as one of the nerve centers of social life in Alicante. It serves as a meeting point, a reference landmark when locals arrange to meet, and a busy junction through which a large share of the city center's pedestrian and vehicle traffic passes. Its open, representative layout contrasts with the dense building fabric of the surrounding streets, further underlining its prominence on the city map.

Is it worth visiting Plaça dels Estels while exploring Alicante?

For visitors exploring Alicante, the square makes a convenient starting point for further sightseeing, whether heading toward the historic center or toward the seafront promenade and Santa Bárbara Castle. The fountain itself, thanks to its scale and symbolism, is a popular subject for photographs and offers an interesting example of Spanish monumental sculpture from the interwar period.

Frequently asked questions

What is Plaça dels Estels also known as? The square is widely known by the nicknames Plaça dels Cavalls (Square of the Horses) and the Spanish name Plaza de los Luceros.

Who designed the fountain in the square? The fountain was designed by local sculptor Daniel Bañuls Martínez, with work completed around 1930–1931.

What do the sculptures on the fountain represent? The lower section features four horses symbolizing strength and movement, while the central obelisk is decorated with four female figures representing the mythological Hesperides.

How far is it to the railway station? Alicante's railway station is located about 450 metres west of the square, making it a convenient orientation point.

Why has the square's name changed so many times? The name changes reflected successive political shifts in 20th-century Spain — from commemorating resistance against Napoleon, through a Catalan-themed period, to the name it has carried since the early 1940s.