Plaza de los Depósitos del Sol

Plaza de los Depósitos del Sol is one of the most distinctive squares in Albacete, sitting in the Carretas-Huerta de Marzo district. It takes its name from a set of former water tanks that still anchor the plaza, laid out around a broad esplanade patterned like a chessboard.

Why is the square named after water tanks?

The story starts in the early 20th century. In 1905 King Alfonso XIII opened the city's first piped water network, but within a few years the existing reservoir near the old Pozo de la Nieve, in what is now the Villacerrada area, could no longer keep up with the growing city. The solution was a new set of tanks built between 1921 and 1922 on the Ejidos del Sol hill, one of the highest points in Albacete, which let water flow to the rest of the city by gravity. Architects Julio Carrilero and Manuel Muñoz designed the tanks in a modernist style, and engineer Eduardo Gallego Ramos oversaw construction.

What happened to the old tanks?

After decades of service the facility fell out of use and sat empty for years. Things changed in 1994, when Albacete's city council put forward a plan to turn the tanks into a cultural space. Following a long restoration, the Depósitos del Sol Municipal Library opened in 2001, inaugurated by José Bono, then president of Castilla-La Mancha. Part of the library now occupies the tank's original circular structure, and the project has proven hugely popular — by 2016 it had logged more than 5.2 million visits. The library offers a study room with 216 seats, and in recent years a new children's area was added inside the circular ground floor, giving younger visitors a dedicated space alongside the adult section.

What is there to see on the plaza itself?

The square is far more than a backdrop for the library. Its chessboard-patterned paving spreads across a wide esplanade dotted with sculptures, a cybernetic fountain, and children's play areas. A 750-metre pergola wraps around the plaza, offering shade on hot days and marking out natural walking routes. In 2022 the city carried out a renovation of the plaza's gardens and planting, refreshing its look and improving comfort for visitors.

How do you get there?

The plaza sits in the Carretas-Huerta de Marzo district, an easily reachable part of Albacete served by city buses — the stop is even named after the square itself, which makes it simple to find. It is a good spot for a walk that mixes local history with everyday neighbourhood life, especially in the afternoons when families gather around the play areas and the shaded pergola.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn bring the most pleasant conditions for a stroll, with the plaza's gardens looking their best after the seasonal upkeep. In summer, the pergola and the cybernetic fountain offer welcome relief from the heat, while the air-conditioned library is a good option during the hottest hours of the day.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the plaza and the library free? Yes, both walking around the square and using the Depósitos del Sol Municipal Library's reading rooms are free for all visitors.

Is this a good spot for families with children? Definitely — the plaza has play areas, and the library added a dedicated children's section inside the circular part of the former tank.

Why does the building have that unusual round shape? It comes from its original purpose: the structure was a drinking-water tank built in 1921-1922 in a modernist style, only converted into a library in 2001.

Can you reach the plaza by public transport? Yes, Albacete's city buses stop right at the square, at a stop named Plaza de los Depósitos del Sol.