Lavadero Fuente Grande de Alcútar

The lavaderos, or washing places, were used by local women to wash clothes and as a place to gather. In times past, there was a washing place in every neighbourhood; today, however, only seven remain.

In this lavadero there are four individual basins, and just above them a wooden pole running from one end of the structure to the other. The clean clothes were hung on this pole so that the excess water would run off; thus, when the women put the clothes in their tabaque (wicker washing basket), they would not get wet when they rested the basket on their hips.