La Foncalada
Encyclopedia
The Foncalada is a fountain of potable water located outside the city walls of Oviedo
, Asturias
, Spain
; it was built by king Alfonso III of Asturias in the 9th century. This building remains the only surviving civil architectural item for public use of the High Middle Ages. Its name was given after the inscription in written on it. Built in Pre-Romanesque style, it is included in the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
list since 1998.
It was originally placed near the city walls, next to the an ancient roman road. The decoration on top depicts the Victory Cross
, symbol of Asturias.
. Below the Asturian Cross, two inscriptions remain:
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, 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...
; it was built by king Alfonso III of Asturias in the 9th century. This building remains the only surviving civil architectural item for public use of the High Middle Ages. Its name was given after the inscription in written on it. Built in Pre-Romanesque style, it is included in the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
list since 1998.
It was originally placed near the city walls, next to the an ancient roman road. The decoration on top depicts the Victory Cross
Victory Cross
The Victory Cross is an early 10th century Asturian Christian ornamented processional cross, which was, as an inscription says, made in 908 in the Castle of Gauzón . It is a crux gemmata or jewelled cross, given by King Alfonso III of Asturias, who reigned from 848 to 910, to Cathedral of San...
, symbol of Asturias.
Building
This public fountain is erected over a spring. The source is a rectangle of about 4 metres (13.1 ft) wide. It has a shape of a vaulted chapel and is crowned by the royal ensign of the Victory CrossVictory Cross
The Victory Cross is an early 10th century Asturian Christian ornamented processional cross, which was, as an inscription says, made in 908 in the Castle of Gauzón . It is a crux gemmata or jewelled cross, given by King Alfonso III of Asturias, who reigned from 848 to 910, to Cathedral of San...
. Below the Asturian Cross, two inscriptions remain: