The fountain in Piazza Colombo

When, on the part in front of Via Palazzo, before the construction of the Minoia palace (the one with the arches), the San Francesco stream was covered over, the resulting square became a kind of car park for all kinds of animal tows, both carts and carriages.

In time, it also became the terminus of the lines connecting it with neighbouring towns, and even the tramway.
The term "Ciaràban" is mentioned, this being derived from the French "Car à banques", i.e. "car with benches", hence the contraction into a dialect version.

When carriages and omnibuses were pulled by horses, the Society for the Protection of Animals, whose president was Major Momber, had an animal drinking fountain built in 1899 and financed it itself.

But the fountain was not only for horses but also for human use and for all animals.

Part of the water from above flowed sideways into two niches on the lower sides to give dogs and cats the opportunity to drink.

The head of a horse on the top of the arch of the fountain could mean that it was made for horses or refer to the creator Society.

(Free elaboration from different sources)