Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain
District: Portalegre > Nisa > Nisa > Bairro da Cevadeira
The Friar's Fountain is located in the Cevadeira neighborhood, in Nisa, along a pedestrian route that invites visitors to discover historical corners of the village. It is close to a small stream and dirt paths that connect quiet residential areas to the old town.
The surrounding area features traditional-style houses and some green spaces, offering a tranquil setting just a few steps from Nisa's busiest streets.
In the summer of 1725, an intense drought severely affected the village of Nisa, leading Judge Bacharel Pereira Leitão to gather clergy, nobles, and the population in search of a solution. In this context, a friar from the Convent of Santo António, in Crato, known for his expertise in locating springs, was invited.
After exploring the surroundings, the religious man identified a spring near the current location of the old public washhouses, working on its structure in 1726 to ensure the water supply for the community.
The fountain features a solid granite frontispiece, delimited by simple pilasters and crowned by a volute finial. Originally equipped with two spouts and a fountain-tank, it now has taps connected to the public water network.
Beside the main wall, a small well and a masonry bridge over the stream remain, vestiges of the 18th-century intervention that balanced functionality and aesthetics.
The surroundings of the Friar's Fountain offer a calm environment, ideal for those who appreciate observing details of worked stone and listening to the murmur of water. The space invites a serene pause and contact with local heritage that is little publicized.
In the vicinity, it is possible to follow pedestrian paths that cross the Cevadeira neighborhood, allowing a glimpse of the traditional urban layout and the natural connection between the stream and the housing.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.518247254332366, -7.649172357672802
Coordinates DMS: 39°31'5.7"N 07°38'57.0"W
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