Source of the Forty Spouts

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa

Location

The Forty Spouts Fountain is located within the urban fabric of the historic Ajuda neighborhood in Lisbon. This area, characterized by its quieter atmosphere and streets that wind up the hill, offers a glimpse into a more traditional and residential Lisbon. Positioned in this context, the fountain integrates into the daily landscape of the parish, serving as a point of reference for the local community and a testament to the history of the Lisbon urban area.

A Testament to Hydraulic Architecture

This fountain, whose name suggests an impressive quantity of forty spouts or water jets, represents a notable example of public architecture intended for supply. In its essence, the Forty Spouts Fountain was a pillar of daily life in past centuries, ensuring access to fresh and potable water for the inhabitants of Ajuda. Its design, practical yet often endowed with constructive and aesthetic details, reflects the vital importance that these facilities held for the well-being and hygiene of the population.

Memory and Heritage

Visiting the Forty Spouts Fountain is connecting with a piece of Lisbon's memory. Each of its elements, from the stone that composes it to the design of its multiple spouts, evokes a time when public fountains were central hubs for socializing and sharing news. This monument is not just a functional structure, but a repository of stories and a symbol of ingenuity and civic concern in the management of the city's water resources, remaining an element of heritage value in the Ajuda landscape.

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