Plaza del Potro

The ancient and historic Plaza del Potro is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, marking the boundary between the medieval parishes of Santa María and San Nicolás de la Axerquía. Starting from the Mezquita-Catedral, we only need to “descend” through the narrow and winding Calle del Cardenal González until we reach a large open space, presided over by a Triumph of San Rafael.

Origin of the name Plaza del Potro

According to scholars, the Plaza del Potro owes its name to an old inn, one of several that once existed but have since disappeared. Ramírez de las Casas Deza argues that “in that place, foals and mules used to be sold.” However, the most logical and widely accepted explanation is that the name comes from the fountain that stands in the square.

It is unknown whether the Plaza del Potro in Córdoba owes its name to an old inn or the fountain.

Urban evolution of the square

Initially, the Plaza del Potro was conceived as a square-shaped, completely enclosed space, not the open rectangle it is today. These urban changes have responded to various needs the city has had to address over the years. The first major restructuring of the space was the creation of the now-extinct Hospital de la Caridad de Ntro. Señor Jesucristo, which today houses the Fine Arts Museum and Julio Romero de Torres Museum.

Years later, the side facing the river was demolished to facilitate access to the riverside. The aforementioned Triumph of San Rafael, a work by Verdiguier, was installed there, having been moved from the central Plaza de San Hipólito. Some believe that this relocation was intended to simulate the enclosure of the square.

The fountain in Plaza del Potro

The fountain, the true protagonist of the square, dates back to the reign of Philip II and was commissioned by the Corregidor Garcí Suárez de Carvajal to improve the area’s water supply. Originally, it was located where the monument to San Rafael now stands but was moved to the opposite end of the square around 1847.

With an octagonal base, it has two steps leading up to the basin, which is about one meter high. A shortened column shaft serves as the base for the bowl, from which emerges a pineapple with four small heads, which are the spouts where the water is expelled. Atop it sits the graceful rampant foal. Water flows from the four little heads of the pineapple into the bowl, which has four openings that allow the water to fall into the basin, creating a delightful and refreshing sound.

Miguel de Cervantes and Plaza del Potro

Miguel de Cervantes lived in Córdoba for a time, and this square appears in Don Quixote. It is worth noting that both the fountain in the Plaza del Potro and the now-disappeared one in the Plaza de la Corredera were supplied with water from the Maimón Spring, located on the outskirts of the city, an ancient Roman aqueduct from the time of Emperor Augustus.

A tile installed on the façade of the Fine Arts Museum in 1917 informs us that “The Prince of Spanish Geniuses Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, of Cordoban ancestry, mentioned this place and neighborhood in the greatest novel in the world. Several Cordobans, with love for their homeland and with veneration as Spaniards, dedicate this humble tribute to the unparalleled writer.”

In fact, he not only mentioned this square in his novels Don Quixote and Rinconete y Cortadillo, but also lived here. Furthermore, his grandfather Juan de Cervantes and his great-grandparents Rodrigo and Catalina were also from here.

Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547, but at just 4 years old he moved with his family to Valladolid. His father, Rodrigo de Cervantes, a physician by profession, went through a severe financial crisis that led to a stint in prison for unpaid debts. Upon his release, he moved the family to Córdoba, settling on Calle Sillerías, now Romero Barros, where he worked as a surgeon at the Hospital de la Caridad. He lived in Córdoba until the death of his grandparents in 1557, although he frequently returned to the city, such as to attend the funeral of playwright Lope de Rueda, whom he greatly admired in his youth.

Visiting Plaza del Potro

If you’re wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Plaza del Potro by booking one of our guided tours. Choose to enjoy quality tourism with qualified staff—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.