A group of Portuguese tourists has become noteworthy in Spain following a viral video showcasing them dancing inside the fountain at Plaza de la Alianza, located in the Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seville.
The video was recorded and posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter) on June 22 by a local user who expressed anger over the tourists’ behavior. “And they will continue to try to sell us the idea that in Seville we have quality tourism. These are not tourists, they are barbarians who don’t respect our city,” the user wrote.
The footage shows the group inside the fountain, singing and dancing to the song ‘Apita o Comboio.’
The user further explained that these tourists were clients of a local establishment that “not only violates the regulations for outdoor seating but also threatens historical heritage by placing tables less than two meters from a cultural interest site.” According to his account, such behavior by patrons of the location, which “hosts performances throughout the day,” is common, including images of a tourist urinating against a wall of the Real Alcázar of Seville.
Throughout the post and in conversations with other users, he clarified that the tourists dancing in the fountain are “Portuguese” and admitted having called the police several times, although the authorities “have done nothing” to “remedy” the situation.
While some viewers detested the images and sided with the video author’s criticisms, others argued that “as everywhere, there is everything,” and noted that Seville enjoys “good tourism compared to many places.”
“The barbarians are a tiny minority. One cannot generalize,” read one comment. “We all, when we are tourists around the world, have dipped our feet in a fountain because of the heat,” another person wrote. The user clarified that anyone “can refresh themselves without jeopardizing a 17th-century fountain” and emphasized that the issue is not about “nationality” but about “civics.”
What does local legislation say?
According to Spanish daily ABC, Article 24, subsection 1, of the Municipal Ordinance on Measures to Promote and Guarantee Citizen Coexistence in Public Spaces of Seville, states that “it is prohibited to engage in any manipulation, alteration, or modification of the installations or elements of fountains that impede their normal functioning, as well as to throw soap or detergents, objects or garbage therein, or misuse them, clog their pipes, break lighting, bathe, or enter them without proper municipal authorization.”
Additionally, Article 27 of the same regulation asserts that these infractions are considered “minor offenses punishable by fines up to 120 euros.” However, in some cases involving complete destruction, the fine can be increased “subject to the circumstances, up to 750 euros.”
Y nos seguirán vendiendo la moto de que en Sevilla tenemos un turismo de calidad. No son turistas, son bárbaros que no tienen ningún respeto por nuestra ciudad. pic.twitter.com/pEvuHP1Ye9
— jesús 🪭 (@jesusvermu) June 22, 2025
