Suratesta Fountain

Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain

District: Beja > Beja > Beja > Bairro das Pedreiras

Location:

The Suratesta Fountain is located in the Pedreiras neighborhood, in Beja. Situated in an area that blends urbanization with the tranquility of the countryside, the fountain is set on flat ground, near a watercourse and a farm wall. The surrounding area, paved with traditional Portuguese cobblestone, invites a calm observation of the Alentejo landscape, offering a different perspective of the city's surroundings.

Marks of Time and Style

This Bejan fountain is a testament to hydraulic architecture, with its roots deep in the 16th century. It is characterized by elements of the Manueline style, a period of great artistic effervescence in Portugal. Its history, however, is multifaceted, given that in the 19th century the ensemble underwent significant adaptations, incorporating stonework from the old D. Manuel I Square Fountain, which no longer exists. This blend of eras gives it a unique character, where the past is revealed through stone, maintaining its original function as a water source to this day.

Architectural Design and Engineering

The design of the Suratesta Fountain is notable, with an 'L'-shaped plan that denotes ingenious functionality. Water is captured from an underground spring, flowing through a conduit covered by chamfered stonework blocks, until it empties into a semi-spherical basin. From there, a stone spout projects the water into a main rectangular tank, with its coping also in chamfered stonework. The structure also includes a small wall that divides this tank and a second rectangular tank, with ramped coping, completing this ensemble that highlights both the utility and the aesthetics of the period's stone construction.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt