Fuente de las Tarascas

The Fuente de las Tarascas marks the western end of the aqueduct, where the water once arrived before being distributed through the city. The fountain features three larger-than-life bronze figures of Purepecha women holding aloft a platter of fruit — a symbol both of the indigenous heritage of Michoacan and of the agricultural abundance of the state. The square around it is one of the liveliest spots on the Calzada in the evenings.

The Purepecha people (also called Tarascos) were the indigenous inhabitants of this part of Mexico and the only pre-Columbian empire to successfully resist Aztec expansion. Their territory centred on Lake Patzcuaro, about an hour south of Morelia, and their cultural influence is still visible throughout Michoacan. The fountain is a daily reminder of this deep local identity.

things to do sight
A story
The original fountain from the 1800s was dismantled in the 1940s and replaced with a more modern version. The current sculpture, showing three Purepecha women holding up a traditional fruit platter, was installed in 1962. It became the subject of controversy — some found the three women immodestly dressed — and the fountain was briefly removed before being reinstated after public protest. It remains the most photographed monument along the aqueduct.