Buried secrets and whispers of royalty surround us here at the Fuente de Húmera. This isn’t just another old fountain. It is a place with a history stretching back centuries. Today, the Fuente de Húmera lies semi-buried. It rests on the right bank of the Camino de Rodajos. The location is between the Glorieta de los Siete Hermanos and the Glorieta de la Encina de Trillo. But let’s journey back in time to truly understand its significance.
The Fuente de Húmera’s name comes from its location. It sits on the road from Madrid to the town of Húmera. This spring is the oldest one we know of in the Casa de Campo. It was mentioned even before this area became part of the Casa de Campo estate.
Picture Carlos II “the Bewitched” seeking solace here. This 17th-century Spanish king believed in the healing powers of these waters. His health was poor. He hoped the Fuente de Húmera would provide a cure. Alfonso Limón Montero noted this. He was a famous Spanish doctor known for studying water’s curative properties. He mentioned the Fuente de Húmera in his book about Spain’s fountains. He wrote that King Carlos II himself drank from it.
Interestingly, the area around the Fuente de Húmera is full of Roman-era pottery. Fragments of early ceramics and terra sigillata are abundant. This suggests the site’s antiquity. In that era, people often broke pottery near springs.
The Fuente de Húmera receives water from a mine dug into the Barranco de las Ánimas. You can still see the mine’s layout. Rabbits have made burrows that expose its ancient path. Ruins remain that show where a door once led to a well.
During the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, this mine served as a refuge. It also provided water for the rebel troops. They used a gasoline pump to fill cisterns. These cisterns supplied drinking water to the nationalist troops. The nearby Plazuela de los Siete Hermanos was then known as the Plazuela del Agua. Pieces of that pump remain buried nearby.
There is good news. Restoring the Fuente de Húmera wouldn’t be too difficult. Much of it is simply buried. Efforts have been underway since 2010 to restore the Fuente de Húmera. The goal is to bring back its historical value to the Casa de Campo. In 2022, procedures started to request restoration approval from the Community of Madrid’s Heritage department. The approval is still pending. The restoration would improve the surrounding area.
So, as we stand here, remember the layers of history beneath our feet. The Fuente de Húmera is more than just a ruined fountain. It is a testament to Madrid’s rich past. It is a place where kings sought healing. Soldiers sought refuge. And where the echoes of centuries still resonate.