Pelican Spring

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Sé

Location:

The Pelican Fountain is located in the heart of Braga, precisely in Praça do Município (Municipality Square). This space is a central, landscaped urban area, framed by historically significant buildings. It stands harmoniously in front of the City Hall (Paços do Concelho) and the former Archbishop's Palace, becoming an easily accessible landmark in the city center.

Artistic Characteristics:

This fountain exhibits a style that lies between Mannerism and Baroque, with Joanine influences. Its conception is attributed to the sculptor Marceliano de Araújo, originally dating back to the 18th century. The fountain's structure is notable for its cascading composition: a higher central basin is surrounded by four smaller basins. This set of basins rests on a quadrilobed tank, which in turn sits on a circular base with two steps. It is worth noting that the tank and base elements were added in the 20th century, under the guidance of municipal architect Cortez Marques, for its current location.

Symbolism and Historical Journey:

The fountain's name and its central iconography refer to the Legend of the Pelican, a symbolism linked to charity and sacrifice in Christian tradition. The figure crowning the fountain is a bird that appears to feed its young, although some analyses suggest the representation more closely resembles an eagle, given its characteristics. The piece was commissioned by Archbishop D. José de Bragança and incorporates his coats of arms.

The history of the Pelican Fountain is marked by several changes of location. Originally, it adorned the gardens of the Braga Archbishop's Palace. Later, it was transferred to Parque da Ponte (Bridge Park), where it remained for several years, before being finally reinstalled in Praça do Município in 1967. Its heritage value was officially recognized in 2021, when it was classified as a Monument of Municipal Interest.

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