Stolen Curro statue from Expo '92 site found in nearby fountain

The iconic statue of Curro, mascot of the 1992 Seville Expo, has been recovered after being stolen over the weekend. It was found in a fountain near the Puerta de la Barqueta, confirming the act as vandalism rather than theft for profit. Source: elmundoes

The theft

The statue, installed barely a month ago as part of the redevelopment of the Puerta de la Barqueta area on the Isla de la Cartuja, was reported missing on July 12. Source: lavanguardia The Ayuntamiento de Sevilla stated it would be investigated. Source: elconfidencial Mayor José Luis Sanz called the act “intolerable” and linked it to recent damage to restored benches on the Paseo de las Delicias. Source: infobae

The recovery

On July 13, the statue was discovered in a fountain by passersby, who alerted local police. Source: elmundoes The recovery confirmed that the incident was an act of vandalism, not motivated by commercial gain. Source: elmundoes The statue, created to honor a beloved symbol for a generation of Andalusians, had been placed on one of the new benches at the request of the Tourism Department and Legado Expo Association. Source: lavanguardia

The Puerta de la Barqueta intervention also restored two ornamental fountains from Expo '92 that had been non-functional for years. Source: elconfidencial The nearby Puente de la Barqueta, built for the fair, remains a key landmark of Sevillian heritage. Source: infobae