Fountain of Campo das Hortas

Braga, Portugal

The Fountain of Campo das Hortas is an example of the model of fountain seeded throughout the 16th and 17th century Portugal, which was first promoted in 1554 by João Lopes o Velho in Viana do Castelo.

On 8 March 1594, a contract was issued, by Archbishop Agostinho de Jesus for the Archdiocese of Braga, to master-mason Manuel Luis to construct a fountain in the Campo de Santa Ana. There was no indication if the project was completed within the year or pre-defined time. By the 19th century, the fountain was relocated to the Campo das Hortas.

The fountain is implanted in a harmonious location, isolated in the centre of garden space fronting the Arco da Porta Nova. Built on an octagonal base, it consists of alternating four-steps divided by green-space, with a circular tank at the top of the staircase. The circular tank is marked by a column with bowl, decorated in grotesque animals ordered by six spouts, which is repeated in the smaller bowl. From the second segment the column is decorated by three sections: the first with six figures at the spouts, the second with the coat-of-arms of Archbishop D. Baltasar Limpo, and the third a cylindrical body decorated with four rounded spirals. The top of the spire is decorated with an armillary sphere and cross in metal.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1554
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Portugal

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Paulo Cesar (10 months ago)
The city center is very beautiful.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.