Currais Source

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Évora > Estremoz > Estremoz > Santo André

Location

The Fonte dos Currais is located in the Santo André area, in Estremoz, an Alentejo city with a rich historical heritage. This place is set within an urban context where history intertwines with daily life. The fountain benefits from its proximity to the old Porta dos Currais (Corrals Gate), one of the points of the bastioned wall that once defended the city, giving it a unique and historically valuable setting.

Its position offers visitors a space that invites observation of the surroundings, being a point of passage that harks back to the layers of time that shaped Estremoz.

A Historic Water Point

The Fonte dos Currais represents a link to the city's daily past, where water availability was fundamental for community life. Although specific records of its construction are not abundant, its presence near such a significant gate suggests a practical function of supply for those entering and leaving Estremoz, or for livestock passing through, justifying the name linked to the "currais" (corrals).

This element harks back to an era when public fountains were central hubs of urban life, serving as meeting points and sources of sustenance for the local population.

Aesthetics and Environment

The Fonte dos Currais features an architectural design of simple and unpretentious lines, characteristic of many traditional public fountains in Alentejo. It does not boast grand ornaments, but its modesty is part of its charm, integrating harmoniously into the surrounding urban landscape.

Visiting the fountain allows for a peaceful pause during a city tour. The murmur of the water, sometimes present, offers a sense of calm, inviting a moment of rest and contemplation of the historical environment that surrounds it, away from the hustle and bustle of major tourist spots.

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