Fountain of São Sebastião da Pedreira

Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Avenidas Novas

Location

The São Sebastião da Pedreira Fountain is located in the heart of the Avenidas Novas parish, in Lisbon, situated halfway up the street of the same name. This area of the city is characterized by more recent buildings and wide avenues, reflecting 20th-century urban planning. The fountain, a historical element, integrates into this modern environment, offering an interesting contrast and a landmark in the urban landscape.

Historical Memory and Origins

Built in 1791, this fountain is an important vestige of Lisbon's old water supply system. Its existence is intrinsically linked to the monumental Aqueduct of Free Waters, an impressive 18th-century engineering work. The São Sebastião da Pedreira Fountain received its water directly from the Galeria de Santana, one of the various branches that supplied water to the city's fountains. Its current location is not its original one; due to the construction of the Filipe Folque street viaduct, which transformed the area in the 20th century, the fountain was carefully relocated north, to the spot where we can observe it today.

Architectural Features

The fountain was designed by the architect Francisco António Ferreira Cangalhas and features a simple and functional design. It is characterized as a wall fountain, built against a wall. Its structure is divided into two levels: the upper level has a rectangular basin fed by two spouts, while the lower level, accessed via two small side staircases, has another rectangular basin served by a single spout. Its construction was a process that extended over four years, from the laying of the first stone in 1787 until the water finally began to flow in 1791. The decorative elements are discreet, limited to royal coats of arms at the top, surmounted by a sphere.

Urban Testimony

More than a structure for water distribution, the São Sebastião da Pedreira Fountain serves as a testament to Lisbon's evolution and its needs. It represents the vital importance of potable water supply to the population in past times, when fountains were meeting points and centers of community life. Its preservation within the urban fabric, despite the profound transformations of its surroundings, underscores the recognition of its value as a memory of daily life and the city's planning in different eras.

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