“Madrid’s first settlement was here” is quite a claim, isn’t it? Right here at the Placa memorial de la Fuente de San Pedro Plaque, we stand near what some believe to be the birthplace of Madrid itself.
This Placa memorial de la Fuente de San Pedro Plaque commemorates the Alcantarilla and Fuentes de San Pedro. These landmarks played a crucial role in Madrid’s origin story. The area’s historical significance is tied to a vital water source. An ancient stream flowed through what is now Calle de Segovia.
Some historians believe this stream was called “Matrice.” Matrice means “mother stream.” The theory suggests Madrid’s name may derive from this very arroyo. The stream’s water attracted early settlers. They sought convenient access to water. The valley surrounding the Fuentes de San Pedro offered shelter and abundant water. This fertile area became the first nucleus of Madrid. It predates the city’s founding as an Arab medina.
Jaime Oliver Asín, a historian, supports this idea. He noted that in the time of Alfonso the Wise, it was called “arroyo de las fuentes de Sant Pedro.” This translates to “stream of the fountains of Saint Peter.” The springs originated near the original church. This church was located near Puerta Cerrada. These springs also fed the Moorish baths nearby.
Interestingly, these baths fell into disrepair. Alfonso the Wise later donated them back to the town. A Moorish woman named Doña Xanci took charge of them. Later, in the same area, they built a fountain called “del Alcantarilla.” It used the bath’s existing water channels.
In the 16th century, Juan de Herrera canalized the stream. It then disappeared beneath Calle Nueva. Today, that street is called Segovia. The Arroyo de San Pedro was also known as Arroyo Matrice. Some also called it Arroyo del Pozacho. It was one of fifteen streams. Together, they formed Madrid’s ancient water system. The stream originated near Jacinto Benavente square. It flowed down Concepción Jerónima street. Finally, it reached Puerta Cerrada. From there, it descended toward the Manzanares River. The path created one of Madrid’s steepest ravines.
The Placa memorial de la Fuente de San Pedro Plaque serves as a reminder. It marks a place where water shaped history. It is a tribute to Madrid’s humble beginnings. The plaque invites us to reflect on the city’s deep roots. Consider the flow of history. Just as the water once nourished the land, so too does memory sustain the spirit of Madrid.