Belém Beach Fountain

Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém

Location

The Belém Beach Fountain is strategically located in Lisbon, in the renowned Belém area. This historic site, part of the Lisbon parish, is situated in Pedrouços, being attached to the rear side of the wall that defines the southern boundary of Largo da Princesa.

Its location next to the Tagus River, which historically defined the landscape of Belém, gives it a particular setting, linking it to the riverside and maritime tradition of the Portuguese capital.

Context and Original Function

As a fountain, its main historical function was to supply drinking water to the population and travelers. These elements were vital in the daily life of the city, serving as essential meeting and supply points in a constantly developing Lisbon.

Its construction, marked by an allusive plaque on the monument itself, points to a public purpose and service to the community that lived in or passed through what was then Praia de Belém, an area of great activity by the riverbank.

Design and Architectural Details

The Belém Beach Fountain is presented as a wall fountain, built of robust stonework, a material that gives it durability and a classic aesthetic. It is a structure solidly integrated into the wall in which it is set, standing out for its formal composition.

At its extremities, the fountain is demarcated by pilasters, decorative elements that simulate columns embedded in the wall, giving it architectural dignity. Its upper part is finished by a cornice, a projecting element that crowns the structure. The spout, through which water once flowed, is centrally positioned, fulfilling its practical function with a sober design.

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