On the northern slope of the hill where the town of Espejo sits are the remains of a circular water reservoir identified as the lacus or terminal tank of an aqueduct that, originating from Monte Horquera in the highlands of Nueva Carteya, supplied water to the Roman colony Claritas Iulia Ucubi.
It is built of mortar (opus caementicium), with a diameter of 35 meters and a thickness of nearly one meter, making it one of the most remarkable examples of Roman hydraulic engineering in the province of Córdoba. It can be dated to the late 1st century BC, closely linked to the organization of the Iberian city of Ucubi as a Roman colony and the urban development that this transformation entailed.
The Alcalá Well is located outside the ancient Roman colony Claritas Iulia Ucubi, founded after the Battle of Munda in 45 BC. Under Augustus, the city underwent urban and monumental development, although much of it now lies beneath the modern town.
The remains discovered here likely correspond to a Roman bath complex, abandoned in the 3rd century and later reused in subsequent periods, including the Andalusian era, when the area also served as a necropolis. This site reflects the historical continuity of Espejo from antiquity through the Muslim period.
The Roman cistern-nymphaeum of Espejo, built around 45 BC, was erected over an ancient Turdetanian sanctuary dedicated to the worship of water and its healing properties. This monumental hydraulic structure, dedicated to the nymphs, symbolizes the importance of water as a source of life and protection across different cultures. Its construction, made of large ashlar blocks, reflects Roman ingenuity and the influence of the Caesarian legions in the region.
After falling into disuse in the 3rd century, the cistern was reused during the Andalusian period, when its vaults were adapted to facilitate water extraction through a pulley system. In the Modern Age, the water supply was redirected to the nearby fountain, but the cistern remains an outstanding testament to Roman hydraulic engineering and to the enduring tradition of water worship in Espejo.
About two kilometers from Espejo, along the Old Road to Castro, lies the archaeological site of La Fuensanta, where religious tradition and Roman heritage come together. There stand the remains of a 16th-century hermitage dedicated to the Virgin of Fuensanta, built next to a spring that continues to be a symbol of popular devotion. Legend attributes its foundation to the Virgin herself, who is said to have expressed her wish to a shepherd.
Beneath the hermitage is a remarkable Roman cistern, built during the reign of Augustus, which demonstrates the hydraulic expertise of the engineers of ancient Ucubi. This reservoir, with ashlar-vaulted ceilings and a channel over 27 meters long, still functions today, supplying water to the area and recalling the continuity of an ancestral cult of water as a source of life.
Just a few meters northwest of Espejo lies the Roman bridge of La Pontanilla, a single semicircular arch structure built with sandstone ashlars. Its origin is linked to an ancient road that connected Ategua with Spalis through the Roman colony of Ucubi, crossing the Malperdido stream.
This route, probably of Iberian origin, witnessed the passage of troops during Caesar’s campaign before the Battle of Munda in 45 BC. Today, La Pontanilla stands as a key remnant of the Roman legacy in the region’s communication network.
