Fontanilla
Encyclopedia
The Fontanilla is the former public fountain of Palos de la Frontera
in Spain
where, according to tradition, these fountains provided the water for the ships of Cristopher Columbus's first voyage—the Santa María
, the Niña
, and the Pinta—when, on 3 August 1492, they departed from Palos de la Frontera
, captained by Columbus and by Palos's own Pinzón Brothers
. That voyage is widely considered to constitute the discovery of the Americas by Europe
ans. La Fontanilla is the least dramatic, but perhaps the most original and authentic monument among the so-called Lugares colombinos
, the places in Huelva closely associated with Columbus's first voyage.
There were two places where water was drawn in Palos: the fountain of Villafrías, at the exit of the estuary, facing the Isla de Saltés, and the Fontanilla, outside of the historic center of the city, but immediately to its east. An estuary of the Río Tinto came practically to its base, with a pier that provided the most direct access to the town from the sea. This was almost certainly the pier from which Columbus's ships departed.
On the way from the Puerta de los Novios of the Church of Saint George the Martyr (Iglesia de San Jorge Mártir), walking toward the nearby site of the former pier, one finds the Fontanilla, the former public fountain constructed on a base that dates back to Roman
times, and protected by a tetrapylum, a sort of gazebo
, constructed of stone in the 13th century in the Mudéjar
style, with a quadrangular base, with the protective roof having a hemispheric vaulted
exterior and a pyramidal
interior. The support consists of four slightly depressed semicircular arches , supported on angular pillar
reinforced by abutment
s.
When the fountain was actually in use, the fountain proper was in the center, and the sides were open gutters where the water ran, gathering on the eastern side in a long trough
. The most recent studies have shown that it was stucco
ed and painted in ochre
with religious motifs, a circumstance that, together with it being at the entrance to the city, suggests that in addition to being the public fountain and a place of rest and cooling off for those who arrived at the town, whether from the dock or by road, it also may have been a cruz de término or humilladero (a type of roadside shrine
at the entrance to a town) or a place of penitance, a place of prayer and reflection intended to give repose both to the body and the soul. In this sense, it could be compared to other humilladeros in Andalusia, for example the Cruz del Campo in Seville
, so related to the origin of the celebrations of Holy Week in Seville
.
Currently, the Fontanilla is restored with a brick finish. The gargoyle
at the exit is the only wooden element, and one can view the Fontanilla either from the road into Palos from Moguer
, or from a viewpoint on the heights of the hill of the settled part of town, looking toward its surrounding gardens.
Palos de la Frontera
Palos de la Frontera is a town and municipality located in the southwestern Spanish province of Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated some from the provincial capital, Huelva...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where, according to tradition, these fountains provided the water for the ships of Cristopher Columbus's first voyage—the Santa María
Santa María (ship)
La Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción , was the largest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage. Her master and owner was Juan de la Cosa.-History:...
, the Niña
Niña
La Niña was one of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage towards the Indies in 1492. The real name of the Niña was Santa Clara. The name Niña was probably a pun on the name of her owner, Juan Niño of Moguer...
, and the Pinta—when, on 3 August 1492, they departed from Palos de la Frontera
Palos de la Frontera
Palos de la Frontera is a town and municipality located in the southwestern Spanish province of Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated some from the provincial capital, Huelva...
, captained by Columbus and by Palos's own Pinzón Brothers
The Pinzon Brothers
The Pinzón brothers were Spanish sailors, explorers and fishermen, natives of Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain. All three, Martín Alonso, Francisco Martín and Vicente Yañez, participated in Christopher Columbus's first expedition to the New World and in other voyages of discovery and...
. That voyage is widely considered to constitute the discovery of the Americas by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans. La Fontanilla is the least dramatic, but perhaps the most original and authentic monument among the so-called Lugares colombinos
Lugares colombinos
The Lugares colombinos is a tourist route in the Spanish province Huelva, which includes several places that have special relevance to the preparation and realization of the first voyage of Cristopher Columbus. That voyage is widely considered to constitute the discovery of the Americas by Europeans...
, the places in Huelva closely associated with Columbus's first voyage.
Origin and architectural style
On the way from the Puerta de los Novios of the Church of Saint George the Martyr (Iglesia de San Jorge Mártir), walking toward the nearby site of the former pier, one finds the Fontanilla, the former public fountain constructed on a base that dates back to Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
times, and protected by a tetrapylum, a sort of gazebo
Gazebo
A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest...
, constructed of stone in the 13th century in the Mudéjar
Mudéjar
Mudéjar is the name given to individual Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus who remained in Iberia after the Christian Reconquista but were not converted to Christianity...
style, with a quadrangular base, with the protective roof having a hemispheric vaulted
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
exterior and a pyramidal
Pyramid (geometry)
In geometry, a pyramid is a polyhedron formed by connecting a polygonal base and a point, called the apex. Each base edge and apex form a triangle. It is a conic solid with polygonal base....
interior. The support consists of four slightly depressed semicircular arches , supported on angular pillar
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
reinforced by abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
s.
When the fountain was actually in use, the fountain proper was in the center, and the sides were open gutters where the water ran, gathering on the eastern side in a long trough
Trough
Trough may refer to:* Trough , the lowest turning point of a business cycle* Trough or manger, a container for animal feed* Watering trough, a receptacle of drinking water for domestic and non-domestic livestock...
. The most recent studies have shown that it was stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
ed and painted in ochre
Ochre
Ochre is the term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as "red ochre". The more rarely used terms "purple ochre" and "brown ochre" also exist for variant hues...
with religious motifs, a circumstance that, together with it being at the entrance to the city, suggests that in addition to being the public fountain and a place of rest and cooling off for those who arrived at the town, whether from the dock or by road, it also may have been a cruz de término or humilladero (a type of roadside shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
at the entrance to a town) or a place of penitance, a place of prayer and reflection intended to give repose both to the body and the soul. In this sense, it could be compared to other humilladeros in Andalusia, for example the Cruz del Campo in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, so related to the origin of the celebrations of Holy Week in Seville
Holy Week in Seville
Holy Week in Seville is one of the most important traditional events of the city. It is celebrated in the week leading up to Easter , and is one of the better known religious events within Spain...
.
Currently, the Fontanilla is restored with a brick finish. The gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
at the exit is the only wooden element, and one can view the Fontanilla either from the road into Palos from Moguer
Moguer
Moguer is a municipality and small city located in the province of Huelva, Andalusia, Spain. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 18,381. Its surface area is , and its population density is ....
, or from a viewpoint on the heights of the hill of the settled part of town, looking toward its surrounding gardens.