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Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Portalegre > Crato > Flor da Rosa > Fonte Branca

Location

Fonte Branca is located in the village of Flor da Rosa, in the municipality of Crato, situated in the area that shares its name. Located in a square opposite the church of the Convento da Flor da Rosa, the fountain stands at a slightly lower level than the surrounding terrain, which gives it a distinctive setting in the urban landscape.

Medieval Legacy

Built in the second half of the 14th century, shortly after the founding of the Convento da Flor da Rosa, this fountain played an essential role in the daily life of the local and monastic community. Its construction reveals the importance of hydraulic equipment of the time, indispensable for the supply and functioning of settlements. Fonte Branca remarkably remains intact since the medieval period, a rare fact for structures of this nature and age.

Architectural Features

The fountain exhibits a quadrangular configuration, with a rectangular-shaped tank. Its main facade stands out with a granite arch, adorned with simple geometric elements, and divided in the centre by a colonette. The remaining faces are covered with plastered and whitewashed walls, creating a contrast with the stone sections. The ensemble also includes a small granite drinking trough and modest steps, which invite approach.

Decorative Elements

At the top of the structure, a granite cornice supports a rectilinear pediment, also whitewashed, which rises in three steps. This culminates in a truncated pyramid and a sphere, both in granite, and features an engraved coat of arms in the centre. These details give Fonte Branca an appearance that evokes ancient reliquary chapels, highlighting its architectural value and its importance as a historical-cultural landmark in the Flor da Rosa region.

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