Imagine a scorching Andalusian day. You’re at the Aqualand water park in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz province. There’s laughter all around, splashing water, and a joyful buzz. Suddenly you spot something that makes you stop in your tracks and question reality: a giant, vivid-blue water tap, hanging in the air and pouring a relentless, powerful stream into the pool below. This isn’t a movie special effect, but the famous fountain sculpture “El grifo mágico” — the Magic Tap. This art installation has long outgrown its role as simple décor, becoming the main attraction and true symbol not just of the park, but of the entire region, drawing thousands of tourists eager to witness this man-made marvel with their own eyes.
An illusion that defies gravity
The first thing that strikes you when you look at the installation is its complete defiance of physics. A massive metal structure hovers several meters above the ground without any visible supports, cables, or structural braces. It appears to float in midair, held up only by the column of water it seemingly produces itself. This visual paradox fills visitors with awe and curiosity. Children excitedly point and shout, while adults reach for their phones, eager to capture the unbelievable sight and unravel its mystery. Of course, there is a secret, and it lies in a brilliant yet simple engineering solution. Hidden inside the dense water stream is a sturdy but perfectly transparent pipe made of acrylic or a similar material. This pipe serves a dual purpose: it channels water upwards with the help of a pump, creating a closed cycle, and at the same time provides a secure support for the entire faucet structure. The illusion is so convincing that even knowing the secret, your mind refuses to believe it, and you can’t help but see the fountain as something magical.
A creation by a French master
This extraordinary creation is the work of French sculptor Philippe Gabriel Thill, renowned for his contributions to contemporary public art. Installed in Cádiz in 2006, the “Magic Tap” is part of a series of similar installations the artist has placed in various countries around the world. Thill’s philosophy is to take ordinary objects out of their usual context, greatly magnify them in scale, and invite viewers to see their surroundings from a fresh perspective. His gigantic taps, watering cans, and other everyday items, set in unexpected locations, blur the line between art and daily life, making art accessible to the broadest possible audience. This isn’t a museum piece kept behind glass—it’s a living, interactive sculpture that engages with both the space and its visitors, stirring genuine emotion. Cádiz’s installation is a prime example of how contemporary art can be not only thought-provoking, but also breathtaking and fun.
More Than Just a Fountain
For Aqualand Bahía de Cádiz, the “Magic Tap” has become a true goldmine. It’s the centerpiece of marketing campaigns and the main draw for visitors, setting this waterpark apart from dozens of competitors. The sculpture has become incredibly popular on social media, turning into one of the most photographed landmarks on the Costa de la Luz. People travel here specifically to take selfies with the floating tap. The success of the concept has led to similar fountains appearing elsewhere in Spain, such as in the Balearic Islands (Menorca) and the Canary Islands (Tenerife). Nevertheless, the installation in El Puerto de Santa María is rightly considered one of the most famous and impressive. It’s a vivid example of how a bold artistic idea can become a powerful tourist magnet, turning an ordinary amusement park into a must-see destination—if only to experience a touch of real magic.
