La Foncalada, a Unique Testament to European Civil Pre-Romanesque Art

This medieval fountain, located in the heart of the city centre of Oviedo/Uviéu, is one of the few pre-Romanesque civil constructions that have survived to the present day. It is a landmark of medieval European architecture and hydraulic engineering of the period. It is a reminder that there was a time when water did not circulate through pipes, and was revered and protected. Its study is essential to decipher the role that these infrastructures played in the evolution of medieval cities. Its iconic presence and its permanence over time have made it a totem of the Asturian capital.

In 1998, UNESCO recognised its historical relevance by declaring it a World Heritage Site within the group of Pre-Romanesque Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias.

Since the 9th century it has been many things: a symbol of royal and religious power, a source of drinking water for the people of Oviedo, a public washing place... it has stood the test of time as a witness to the urban evolution of Oviedo/Uviéu until it has become a heritage icon.

There are those who believe it to be of Roman origin and those who attribute its construction to Alfonso III, although most researchers maintain that its current configuration dates from the reign of Alfonso II, the Chaste (791-842). The Roman hypothesis is still open, but no conclusive evidence has been found that would allow us to speak of a construction prior to the early Middle Ages.

Its name comes from the Latin"Fontem Calatam", which could be translated as"invoked fountain", reflecting the strong religious connection that the Asturian monarchy established with its constructions. Its crystalline water, associated with baptism and cleansing from original sin, not only quenched the body but also renewed the spirit. It may have been used in purification rituals or for therapeutic purposes. It may also have formed part of a processional circuit that started from the presumably royal palace in the vicinity of San Tirso el Real and the primitive church of San Salvador (on which Oviedo Cathedral would be built) and ended at San Julián de los Prados.

Detail of the Foncalada Fountain in Oviedo, Asturias, showing the Victoria Cross carved in the stone and an inscription.

Whoever dominated the water, dominated the city. Providing Oviedo/Uviéu with a monumental fountain not only ensured the well-being of its inhabitants, but also consolidated the stability of the kingdom and reaffirmed the monarchy. On the eastern façade of the edicule, the presence of the Victoria Cross, accompanied by Latin inscriptions, reinforces this idea.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, before running water reached homes, La Foncalada was a meeting point for women who came to wash their clothes. However, the growth of Oviedo/Uviéu and the modernisation of the water supply relegated it to the background. It was confined to the urban fabric and suffered the threat of pollution, the erosion of the stone and the pressure of road traffic.

The main interventions on La Foncalada have taken place in the 20th and 21st centuries, with works that have sought to stabilise its structure and recover its original appearance; eliminating sediments and other elements that altered its original structure, reinforcing the conservation of the ashlars and the edicule. In the early nineties, archaeological excavations made it possible to advance in the interpretation of its original structure, revealing that La Foncalada was not an isolated element, but part of a wider hydraulic system that supplied the medieval city. With its recognition as a World Heritage Site in 1998, new protection criteria were established and a drainage system was installed to reduce humidity and prevent erosion. Today, the fountain is still under constant surveillance and maintenance to avoid alterations to its structure.

The general appearance of La Foncalada is similar to the Pompeian nymphaeums. Certain elements are reminiscent of hydraulic constructions from the High-Imperial period, especially its small temple and a pond that could have been used as a spa.

One of the main arguments in favour of this theory of Roman origin is the similarity of its foundations to those of the"Pedras Formosas", ritual and thermal structures characteristic of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and dating from Roman or even pre-Roman times. In any case, the epigraphic evidence and the style of the edicule suggest a construction clearly linked to the Asturian monarchy of the 9th century.

A sober construction, with large limestone ashlars, and a structure made up of three fundamental elements: a pond, a supply channel and a monumental edicule to frame the water outlet. From an architectural point of view, its design was by no means accidental, but rather it responded to a plan that was coherent with the other buildings in the domain, reflecting an advanced technical knowledge for the time, capable of channelling and distributing water to different parts of the city.

One of the most notable aspects of La Foncalada is its epigraphic decoration with invocations of divine protection such as these:

"By this sign the pious is protected. By this sign the enemy is vanquished."
"Lord, place the sign of salvation on this fountain, so that you will not allow the striking angel to enter".

Some argue that some of these inscriptions are based on the blessing of baptismal fonts, which could indicate a ceremonial use of La Foncalada.

Also noteworthy is the presence of a cross with the Alpha and Omega, symbols that reinforce this same idea of divine protection, as well as the link between royal power and faith. The rectangular, gable-roofed edicule contains a semicircular arch that leads to the water. It is a design that, although functional, is also charged with symbolism and speaks of an architectural tradition that has its roots in the classical world.

The Foncalada is an open-access monument, which means that it can be visited at any time of the day. However, it is advisable to visit during daylight hours to better appreciate the architectural and epigraphic details.

Given its urban nature, it does not have its own interpretation centre, although we can complete our cultural day by visiting the nearby Archaeological Museum of Asturias, where other elements of Asturias' pre-Romanesque heritage are on display.