Birdie's Spring

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Lisboa > Odivelas > Pinhal Verde > Bairro Tomada do Capão

Location

The Fonte dos Passarinhos is located in Pinhal Verde, in the municipality of Odivelas, more precisely in the Bairro Tomada do Capão. Situated on Rua da Fonte dos Passarinhos, north of the village center of Caneças, its position on the mountainside provides a natural and tranquil setting. The location is embraced by trees, creating a serene environment for visitors.

Architecture and Period

Inaugurated on June 4, 1934, the Fonte dos Passarinhos is a work conceived by Joaquim Fernandes Lapa and Manuel Duarte Mourisco. Its architecture reflects a stylistic trend of bucolic revivalism, combining natural elements with an artistic touch. The main body of the fountain is distinguished by three semi-circular arches, topped by a prominent keystone and an elaborately carved pediment. The ensemble is complemented by a small adjacent building, quadrangular in plan and with a four-sloped roof, whose facade replicates the same decorative language as the fountain.

Singular Decorative Details

One of the most striking aspects of the Fonte dos Passarinhos is its unique decoration with embrechados. This technique, which uses mollusk shells, ceramic fragments (including pieces of old clay jugs), and river pebbles, gives the monument a unique texture and pattern. On its surfaces, one can observe drawings of circles with stars inside. In the niche where the water emerges and within it, one discovers a naive tiled frieze with grotesque motifs, characterized by symmetrical and stylized vegetal forms, sometimes accompanied by hybrid figures, and representations of birds and flowers, created with small polychrome pebbles and shells.

A Legacy and Ambiance

The Fonte dos Passarinhos evokes a past where water played a central role in local life. During the 1930s and 1940s, the fountain was a hub of intense activity, with its water being sold in traditional clay jugs by the "Empresa Fonte dos Passarinhos." It was common to see "water carriers" and "fillers" at their daily work, while visitors could enjoy moments of rest and family picnics, attracted by the balsamic scent of the pine trees. Although times have changed, the place retains its primitive rusticity and the inviting atmosphere that harks back to that era. The recognition of its heritage value was formalized in 2004, with its classification as a Municipal Heritage Site.

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