Funtana manna, “big fountain”

The Funtana Manna, or Big Fountain, of Uri was built in the centre of the village in 1777, by the Countess of Ittiri and Baroness of Uri, donna Stefania Manca Amat. The Historical Archive of Sassari holds some documents regarding the original project, entrusted to the master Gavino Pirino from Sassari. Sa Funtana Manna immediately became a gathering point, because it was also used as drinking trough for animals and as a wash house. The current architectural design has an upper part with moulded frame, supported by two half pilasters ending in a capital with three bands; a central part without decorations, with the ashlars used in the first phase of construction visible, and a lower part, with three anthropomorphic drainage nozzles, to help fill jars. On the right of the fountain there is another structure, functioning as a drinking trough. The fountain is the result of restoration work, starting in the mid-90s and ending in 1997, intended to return the fountain to how it looked before the changes made in the 50s. On the one hand, the restoration work managed to restore the aesthetic value fountain, but on the other hand it wasn’t able to restore the role and original meaning of the space. Since 2018, the monument has been included in the touristic itinerary “Funtaneris. Following the roads of water”, by an association from Cagliari “Associazione Storia della Città di Cagliari”, with the goal of defining and promoting the regional architectural heritage linked to water.