Scattered throughout the town center are numerous fountains, thanks to the abundance of water from the Molinos River, which met the needs of people and animals in the not-too-distant past, when there was no individual water supply for each home. They typically feature a brick basin attached to a structure covered with ceramic tiles.
Of all of them, the most iconic is the El Chorro fountain and washhouse. It has been remodeled and now features a pyramidal façade covered with ceramic tiles depicting rural motifs. It is crowned with the Istán coat of arms and a marble plaque that refers to previous renovations. Seven water spouts, fed by the Molinos River, emerge from this façade. On the pillar, the wear and tear on the stone caused by the constant coming and going of pots and pitchers—repeated tirelessly for centuries—is clearly visible. Next to it stands a small, elongated washhouse covered with semicircular brick arches, where a series of washbasins—now heavily worn from use—are situated.
These springs and the washhouse, as well as the vegetable gardens, are irrigated by a network of irrigation channels that has its roots in the Islamic world. The most notable of these is the one known as El Chorro Irrigation Canal. You can explore this area by taking one of the most enchanting rural walks in the entire Sierra de las Nieves, as it winds through a truly idyllic landscape, full of water, vegetable gardens, and crops, leading to the Nacimiento de Abajo and the source of the Molinos River.
Calle Chorro, Istán
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