Fuente Juan de Uzeta Totana
Built in the eighteenth century, this was the main central supply of running water in the town
The Fuente de Juan de Uzeta is located right in the heart of the town of Totana in the Plaza de la Constitución, and was originally built as a central point from which water was supplied in the centre of the town during the eighteenth century.
Unlike other plazas in central areas of major towns in the Murcia Region, this fountain is not located in the geometric centre of the plaza, but sits to one side, with other important buildings from the same period surrounding it, namely the Ayuntamiento (town hall), the Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol and the Casa de Contribuciones.
The main reason for this is that the Plaza de la Constitución was built in the sixteenth century to adapt to the needs of the town as it grew, whereas the fountain was not built in its current format until the eighteenth century.
During this period central plazas were used for a number of purposes, including festivities and even public executions, so the fountain was placed on one side to ensure the space in front of the major buildings was as multifunctional as possible.
Fountains were a necessary rather than decorative element of any major town centre, providing a water source for the townspeople, who lacked the modern luxury of running water piped to their homes, and also to water livestock.
In this case, provision was made to bring the water into the centre of the town from the natural water source in the fuente de la Carrasca in the Sierra Espuña in 1750.
This fountain was designed in the baroque style by the sculptor Juan de Uzeta, originally from Granada but working in Lorca, and was built between 1751 and 1753. It sits on a hexagonal base, with 18 water outlets, made from red marble, supporting a second water level fed by further water pipes sprouting from the mouths of a sculptural group of cherubs and putti.
This is then topped with a medallion of white stone bearing the escudo, or coat of arms of Totana, completed with the motif of the Cross of Santiago, linking to the Order of Santiago which forms such an important part of the history of Totana.
Click for more information about the municipality of Totana.
