Sceptic Fountain refurbished (Fuente de los incrédulos)

Sceptic Fountain refurbished (Fuente de los incrédulos)

In the 18th century, after three centuries studiying possibilites, alternatives and on works, a great Canal arrived to Zaragoza.
The "sceptic fountain" was opened in the nearest point to city centre
Today, latter 2013, it has been refurbished and you can visit it again

A part of our history

The Ebro river crosses the centre of Aragon but it doesn't irrigate anything. It is like the Nile in Egypt. A lot of water but just only in their nearby you will see irrigation.
In the 16th century a Canal was projected. It was the "Canal Imperial de Aragon", and the word "Imperial" comes because first king to get the project was the Emperor Charles the 5th of Germany and king 1st of Spain. Hence "Imperial".

In the 18th century the project was taken again and thanks to Ramon Pignatelli it was made. A lot of people were very sceptic about them. It was a huge canal that made possible to have water in the countries near the Ebro but impossible to take water as well as possible for little vessels. In the 18th century it was easier to transport freight in the canal than in a cart or horse-wagon.

When the water arrived to Zaragoza (in fact, the little village of Casablanca, today just one more neighbourhood in the city), Ramon Pignatelli opened a fountain. It was called the "sceptic fountain"

And... to make it quite clear he wrote ("Incredulorum convictioni et viatorum commodo." Anno MDCCLXXXVI) what it means (in Latin) "to convince sceptics and for a rest of travellers" Year 1786.

Still you can see that sentence.

The fountain today. How to arrive there?

This autumn, after some works, the fountain has been refurbished.

Although it is not in city centre, it is quite easy to arrive there.
Tramway L1 stop "Casablanca" is about 400 m ahead (and no possibility to get lost. It is in the same avenue)

Visit is absolutely free. It will take you only 15 minutes to visit it and the surroundings (and just pay a return ticket in tramway).

You can also try to start there the Green Ring of Zaragoza... or either you start it, you will walk around this fountain.

and some Canal facilities for former vessels just behind this fountain (Casablanca Canal locks)

San Antonio church tower.

San Antonio church tower.

In the 1940s the Italian government built a church and a cemetery for Italian soldiers who dead in Spain.
However, because no funds, the tower was just half of heigh.
Nevertheless, it worths to have a visit.

Where is San Antonio de Padua church?

It is in Paseo de Cuellar, after Pignatelli park and near the Imperial canal.

A touristic bus stop is very close to it.
Bus lines 31, 33, 34, 39 and 42 have a stop very near that church. Some of them connects with city centre or the tramway

When can the tower be visited?.

You ought ask in the own church because it is part of the parish. They have different timetables depending the season. Anyway, even if closed, a walk around the church is quite interesting.

What can I find around the San Antonio church?

Just in front of the church there is another interesting church... but inside military territory so you can only see it from the street (I've been once for an event, I had to give my name for accepted guests and security was in every corner).

They are San Fernando barracks, maybe one of those places where you have more generals rather than soldiers (they are mainly offices and bureaus).

Here's a view.

Quite a little going to the north (walking down to the city centre) you will find the Pignatelli park. It is a very small park and it has the first statue located in Zaragoza. It is Ramon de Pignatelli who built the Imperial canal.

You can have a walk along the park and visit this statue:

And finally you can go south (away from city centre) and will find the Imperial Canal. It is nice to have a look and walking around it... but we will talk about it in the entrance "Zaragoza Green Belt".


and obviously, even if it is not a cathedral, try to enter inside San Antonio church:

Zaragoza Green Ring

Zaragoza Green Ring

(or "Anillo verde de Zaragoza" as officially is said)
Do you want to have a tour around the city visiting its parks and natural resources?
There are plenty of them but this path will join most of them

What's the Zaragoza Green Ring?

It is a circle line that departing in the Puente del Tercer Milenio (Third Millenium Bridge) besides the Expo 2008 area, goes parallel to the Ebro river until the neighbourhood of La Cartuja and come back besides the Imperial Canal.

The shortest way is 30,5 km going and return.

Is it possible to made part of it?

Obviously yes.
As you can see in this map, a great deal of the Ring is between (or near) built neighbourhoods, so you can have a look to tramway or bus map and choose just a little stretch.

Be aware that to the neighbourhood of La Cartuja, the bus number 25 arrives every 12 minutes aprox. so you can go walking and returning by bus.
Starting in the eastern side of the ring besides the city and near the river, you can reach there with buses 24, 30 or 44.
Starting (or finishing) near the eastern side besides the Canal, you can reach there with buses 31 and 42 for instance. This will make easy your walk because you will not need to make a 35 km journey, just some of them outside the city but near it.

Are they more branches?

Of course. And it is a pity but it is not fully built. In the western side there is an alternative path crossing the "Parque Metropolitano del Agua Luis Buñuel" (Luis Buñuel Metropolitan Water Park)
There is another branch to the north, besides the Gallego river.

In a lot of newspapers dealers you will be able to buy a guide about it, but it requires few indications.

What will I find?

A lot of cityscapes but also landscapes.

Just some photos OUTSIDE the city (I just link some photos inside the city, most of them are in the nearby
but not inside the city)


Going to La Cartuja besides the Ebro river (as can be seen, you can make it with a mountain bike too)

You will depart next to the houses in the eastern side of the city (neighbourhood of Las Fuentes) and walk close to the river. Motorway will be crossed by a pass under it.

This brigde is not "inside" the inner ring but 500 meters away. I suggest you to cross it (only pedestrians or bikes).
It is very near La Cartuja, well indicated and no confusions.
Should you continue, you will arrive to the narutal area of La Alfranca

The Imperial Canal has several "locks". They were made to help little boats sailing there.

Returning from  La Cartuja besides the Imperial Canal you will find the Valdegurrianda locks (Esclusas de Valdegurriana)

and inside Zaragoza the "Fuente de los Incredulos" (Spectic fountain) and Casablanca locks

The "Sceptic Fountain" (Fuente de Los Incrédulos, I would advice you to ask about that name to someone in Zaragoza) has this sentence in Latin
"Incredulorum convictioni et viatorum commodo." Anno MDCCLXXXVI

which means "for convicting sceptics and a rest for travellers", Year 1786.

It was built to show that a Canal was possible to arrive to Zaragoza by Ramon Pignatelli

and some more pics inside the city:

This is an old stretch for railway to Teruel and Valencia in Oliver neighbourhood. Nowadays the train goes outside the city and this side was refurbished to have a walk. It is part of the inner ring.

As you can see, lamps seems to be over a catenary and a lot of details over the promenade remember to a railway lane.

AND REMEMBER. IT IS TOO LONG. YOU CAN WALK ONLY FOR A WHILE COMMUTING WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I HAVE POSTED ONLY PHOTOS OUTSIDE THE CITY BUT INSIDE IT IT WORTHS TOO!!!