Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain
District: Porto > Póvoa de Varzim > Póvoa de Varzim > Bairro Piscatório
In the city of Póvoa de Varzim, there is a place of cultural significance known as Largo Eça de Queiroz. This space is situated where some streets of the old Bairro da Matriz meet the central Praça do Almada, positioning it in the historic heart of the locality. It is an area that reflects the urban essence of Póvoa de Varzim, connecting bustling areas with the atmosphere of the city's more traditional and old streets.
This square is intrinsically linked to the figure of José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, considered one of the most important Portuguese novelists of all time. It was precisely in a house that borders the square, on Praça do Almada, that Eça de Queiroz was born in 1845. The choice of this location to honor the writer underscores his deep connection to Póvoa de Varzim, with his hometown being a starting point for the vast literary work he produced, recognized worldwide.
Largo Eça de Queiroz features elements that tell a part of Póvoa de Varzim's urban history. In its center, a parochial wayside cross stands out, popularly known as Cruzeiro verde (Green Cross), which evokes the former designation of the place as Terreiro de São Sebastião. To the north of the square, a two-spout fountain, built in 1855, can be observed, featuring a tile panel added a century later. This fountain includes the municipal coat of arms and a female figure with an anchor, symbolic elements that refer to the city's connection to the sea.
The importance of Eça de Queiroz is perpetuated in the very space of the square through a gesture of recognition. A bronze plaque, created by Master Teixeira Lopes, was donated by Portuguese residents in Brazil in 1906 and placed on the house where the writer was born, very close to the square. This continuous tribute serves as a reminder of Eça's lasting relevance in literature, an author whose works, such as "Os Maias" or "O Crime do Padre Amaro," continue to be studied and appreciated in various languages worldwide.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.37946194, -8.75919078
Coordinates DMS: 41°22'46.1"N 08°45'33.1"W