The fountain features an engraving of the Victory Cross, which has become the symbol of the Principality of Asturias.
It is the only known civil public work preserved from the Asturian pre-Romanesque period.
The structure includes a specific Latin inscription thanking God for the gift of water and the construction of the fountain.
The name 'Foncalada' is derived from the Latin 'fonte incalata', meaning 'invoked fountain'.
It was discovered during 20th-century urban excavations, having been buried and forgotten for centuries.
Foncalada's Fountain is a rare surviving example of pre-Romanesque civil engineering dating back to the 9th century. Located in Oviedo, it was commissioned by King Alfonso III of Asturias to provide potable water to the city. The structure is built from limestone ashlar and features a gabled roof protecting the fountain basin. It is inscribed with a Latin votive inscription referencing the cross of victory, a symbol of the Asturian monarchy. The site is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias. It remains one of the few functional civil structures from the Asturian period still standing in its original location. The fountain is currently housed within a protective architectural enclosure below street level to preserve the ancient masonry.
From the upper street-level railing looking down into the enclosure to capture the entire structure and its gabled roof.
View the site from the street-level viewing area before walking down to the lower basin level for a closer look at the masonry.
Combine your visit with a walk through the nearby historic center of Oviedo, as the fountain is a quick stop.
Look for the interpretive plaques that explain the architectural details and the history of the Asturian water system.
Do not attempt to touch or climb on the ancient masonry, as the stone is fragile and protected.
