Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa
The Chafariz da Boa Hora is located in the Ajuda parish, in Lisbon, specifically on Rua Nova do Calhariz. Set within a consolidated urban environment, this historical element is attached to a wall, integrated into a public sidewalk. Its presence dialogues with the residential buildings that flank it, contributing to the local atmosphere. It is situated in an area with connections to highly significant heritage sites in the city, making it a point of interest that enriches walking explorations through Ajuda.
This 19th-century fountain features a neo-baroque revivalist aesthetic, constructed from Lioz limestone quarry stone, a typical stone from the Lisbon region. Its design is simple yet elegant, composed of a rectilinear backplate that rises and curves in the central part, once intended to display the municipal coat of arms. The backplate includes a double central cushion and is flanked by two circular bronze spouts, through which water flows into a rectangular basin, which has a rim reinforced with iron elements, a practical detail of its original function.
The Chafariz da Boa Hora is a testament to the evolution of Lisbon's water supply and the importance of water for the daily lives of communities. Its construction, completed and put into operation on April 4, 1839, was the result of an initiative by the Junta da Paróquia da Ajuda. After the extinction of the Religious Orders in 1834, the waters that served the Convento da Boa-Hora became available, and the local population requested their donation from Queen D. Maria II. In the body of the fountain, an inscription immortalizes this historical moment: "QUEEN D. MARIA II DONATED THE USE OF THESE WATERS TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE FREGUEZIA DA AJUDA BY THE REQUEST MADE BY THE RESPECTIVE PARISH BOARD AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BUILT THIS FOUNTAIN IN THE YEAR 1838".
Currently, the Chafariz da Boa Hora transcends its original utilitarian function, asserting itself as a historical-cultural landmark. It is a point that invites a pause and reflection on the city's history and the needs of its people throughout the centuries. Its preservation allows us to understand the importance of fountains in the daily life of Lisbon in the past, keeping alive the memory of an era when these elements were vital centers of life and community gathering.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.70315168, -9.1942256
Coordinates DMS: 38°42'11.3"N 09°11'39.2"W
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