Fuente de los Incrédulos

Fuente de los Incrédulos is an 18th-century fountain in Zaragoza, standing on Vía Ibérica right where it crosses the Imperial Canal of Aragón (Canal Imperial de Aragón), close to the Casablanca lock and the small park around it.

Why is it called the "Fountain of the Unbelievers"?

The name has nothing to do with religion in the everyday sense — it refers to people who doubted the canal project would ever succeed. When the cleric Ramón Pignatelli, the driving force behind the Imperial Canal, finally brought its waters into Zaragoza, he had this fountain raised as lasting proof that the doubters had been wrong. The "incrédulos," or unbelievers, were those who openly mocked the undertaking and never expected the canal to reach the city.

Who doubted the project, and why?

The main skeptics were Pignatelli's own colleagues from Zaragoza's Metropolitan Chapter. Their disbelief was not incidental: the canal would irrigate new land, which meant changing how tithes were collected from those plots. The canons stood to lose income they were already used to, so relations between them and Pignatelli grew tense, turning into a dispute that was as much political and legal as it was about engineering. The fountain, then, was more than decoration — it was a fairly pointed public reply to that conflict.

When was the fountain built, and what does its inscription say?

The fountain was unveiled in December 1786. Its stone inscription strikes a tone of wry satisfaction, speaking of setting the unbelievers straight and offering rest to travelers, dated to that same year. That mix of triumph and needling is exactly why the fountain is still described as one of the most ironic monuments in Zaragoza.

What was the fountain called before?

It was originally known as Fuente del Molino de la Casa Blanca or Fuente de Casablanca, names tied to a nearby mill and the Casablanca settlement. Over time, the popular nickname "Fuente de los Incrédulos" overtook the official name, and it's the one used today on city signage and in guides.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The fountain forms part of a city walking route dedicated to fountains and water features along the Huerva river, curated by Zaragoza's city council as part of its public art program. Its position next to the Casablanca lock, surrounded by park greenery, makes it a spot where history and a quiet break go hand in hand — much as its 18th-century inscription promised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where in Zaragoza is the Fuente de los Incrédulos located? On Vía Ibérica, at the point where the street crosses the Imperial Canal of Aragón, a short distance from the Casablanca lock.

Who built the fountain and why? Ramón Pignatelli, the cleric who led construction of the Imperial Canal, had it built once the canal's waters reached Zaragoza, as a response to skepticism from part of the Metropolitan Chapter.

What does "incrédulos" refer to in the fountain's name? It refers to those who doubted the canal would succeed, mainly clergy worried about losing tithe income once the newly irrigated land changed how it was taxed.

When was the fountain unveiled? In December 1786, a date confirmed by the inscription carved on the fountain itself.