Fountain of Andalusia

Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Coração de Jesus

Location

The Andaluz Fountain is located in Lisbon, in an area with a strong historical legacy, once known as Coração de Jesus and currently integrated into the Santo António parish. It is situated in the Largo de Andaluz, a small and tranquil urban corner at the northern top of Rua de Santa Marta. This square, where the fountain stands, holds particular importance, being historically recognized as the point of origin of the ancient parish to which the neighborhood belonged.

Origin and Historical Legacy

This fountain is one of the oldest landmarks in the Portuguese capital, having been inaugurated in 1336. Its construction was an initiative of the Council of Lisbon, at a time when the city sought to provide itself with essential infrastructure for its population. Erected "in the service of God and our Lord King Dom Afonso" (referring to D. Afonso IV), the fountain was intended to meet the water supply needs of Lisboetas. An inscription engraved on the monument itself recalls its construction and the names of Gil Esteves, then treasurer of the city, and Afonso Soares, clerk, who supervised the work. The name "Andaluz", which the location and fountain bear, has a curious origin, thought to have derived from a figure of the time originating from Andalusia.

Design and Symbolism

On its espaldar, the Andaluz Fountain displays a set of elements that reveal part of the history and heraldry of Lisbon. The coat of arms of D. Afonso IV and a bipartite stone slab stand out. On this slab, the coat of arms of the city of Lisbon is found on the left, and the inscription marking its construction date on the right. It is noteworthy that the ancient arms of Portugal and Lisbon represented here, dating from 1336, were one of the references for the design of the city's current coat of arms, adopted centuries later. The Andaluz Fountain, with its simple and functional architecture, is a silent testament to Lisbon's past, revealing the priorities and urban life of yesteryear.

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