Spoon Source

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Miragaia

Location

The Spoon Fountain is located in the heart of the historic Miragaia district, in the city of Porto. Its location is particularly discreet and unique, situated below the level of the busy Rua Nova da Alfândega and adjoining the ground floor of a building. This positioning gives it a certain mystery, almost like a small urban secret waiting to be discovered, embedded in the network of streets descending towards the Douro River, revealing a genuine piece of Porto's past.

Historical Legacy and Significance

The Spoon Fountain boasts a remarkable past, being one of the oldest fountains in the city of Porto. Although the structure we observe today dates from a reconstruction in 1629, its existence is attested in documents dating back to 1491. Its peculiar name, "da Colher" (of the Spoon), derives from an ancient fiscal system, a tax levied on food items entering the city, which was paid with a "spoon" as a measure of tribute. It thus functioned as a crucial point of commerce and supply, especially for goods arriving via the Douro River. The water that sprang forth here was, in its time, recognized for its excellent quality, playing a vital role in the daily lives of the inhabitants.

Architectural and Symbolic Details

Built entirely of granite, the Spoon Fountain presents a robust and traditional aesthetic, characteristic of the city's old constructions. At its extremities, two fluted pilasters stand out, extending into corbels supporting a prominent balcony, which serves as the upper covering of the fountain's basin. The body of the fountain is adorned with five cushioned surfaces of worked granite, where the two water outlets are located. An inscription, although now barely legible, reveals the date 1629 and a religious invocation: "Praised be the Most Holy Sacrament and the Most Pure Conception of the Virgin Our Lady, conceived without original sin". Another engraving visible in other records reinforced the municipal ownership of its valuable water, underscoring its strategic importance to the city. Classified as Property of Public Interest since 1938, this fountain is a silent testament to Porto's urban evolution and daily needs over the centuries.

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