The popular name for the plaza is Mermaids' Square. However, upon closer examination, you will notice that the two magnificent marble statues are not actually mermaids; rather, they are sphinxes, women's heads combined with lions' bodies. It’s possible that the depiction of a mermaid in the nearby San Martin church was the motivation for the naming of the square. On the other hand, King Henry IV's palace, which was located in the area, featured a courtyard with actual lions. The sculptor Francisco Bellver, who in 1850 was commissioned to create two white marble sculptures of mermaids might have been confused by such details, as he ended up creating two sphinxes instead. The fountain placed on the next level is another of Bellver’s creations.