Fuente Grande, Renaissance fountain in Ocaña, Spain.
Fuente Grande is a Renaissance fountain in Ocaña with a rectangular structure that contains two distinct zones. One section provides water supply with ten spouts flowing into a stone trough, while the other zone is dedicated to clothes washing and is supported by twenty Tuscan pilasters carrying arched openings.
Construction of Fuente Grande began in 1573 under Felipe II's reign and was completed in 1578 by local craftsmen Blas Hernández and Francisco Sánchez. The project arose during an era when public water facilities were becoming essential for growing towns.
The fountain served as a central meeting place for residents, with separate zones for collecting drinking water and washing clothes. This division reflects how essential the facility was to the daily life of the town.
Visitors can easily distinguish the two functional zones at Fuente Grande and explore both water collection areas. The location is centrally positioned in town and remains accessible for viewing throughout the day.
The washing area could accommodate around three hundred women simultaneously, showing this was a substantial communal facility for its time. This capacity highlights how central laundry activities were to daily routines in Ocaña.
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