Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Odivelas > Caneças > Pinhal Verde
The Caneças Water Interpretive Centre is located on Rua do Pinhal Verde, in Caneças, Odivelas municipality. This area, once known as "Lugar das Piçarras" (Place of the Piçarras), is a historic spot where the presence of water has always shaped the local identity. The Centre integrates into the urban landscape by housing and rehabilitating the Fonte das Piçarras (Piçarras Fountain), a striking element of the local architecture and history.
This cultural facility is dedicated to preserving and disseminating Caneças' deep connection to water, a resource that shaped its history and the life of its community. Through the exhibitions, visitors can understand how the abundance of springs influenced local customs and how water became an identifying mark of the region. The Centre also emphasizes the importance of recognizing water as a finite natural resource, fundamental for the present and the future.
The exhibition itinerary of the Caneças Water Interpretive Centre guides visitors on a journey through time, revealing not only the village's famous springs, but also the economic and social activities that developed around the exploitation and sale of its waters. In this way, it is possible to learn about the daily lives of historical figures such as the nurserymen, the washerwomen, the bottlers, and the water carriers. The exhibition gathers a diversity of pieces and documents that vividly illustrate these traditions and trades, allowing for an in-depth look at the impact of water on the life of Caneças.
The architecture of the Interpretive Centre harmoniously combines contemporary elements with the classified heritage of the old Fonte das Piçarras (Piçarras Fountain), built in the 1930s with its rich Neo-Manueline ornamentation. The intervention freed the fountain's facade, integrating it into a new context that highlights its beauty. The project incorporates the presence of water visually and acoustically, creating an immersive environment. The space offers an organization designed for museological enjoyment, with well-defined exhibition areas and accessibility between different floors, including a playful children's area with water games, which complements the exhibition narrative. The Centre is equipped with inclusive solutions, such as audio guides in various languages (Portuguese, English, and Portuguese sign language, with audio description) and tactile flooring for orientation, ensuring that the heritage is accessible to all.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.816835,-9.228008
Coordinates DMS: 38°49'0.6"N 09°13'40.8"W
Weather Caneças
On-duty Pharmacy Caneças
