Kite Source

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Setúbal > Almada > Cacilhas > Olho de Boi

Strategic Location

Fonte da Pipa is located in the Olho de Boi area, in Cacilhas, a locality within the municipality of Almada. It is situated on the left bank of the Tagus River, at the foot of a cliff, which gives it a unique position. From this spot, visitors can enjoy a view of the city of Lisbon, which extends across the opposite bank of the river, placing the fountain in an environment that combines urban dimension with riparian serenity.

Baroque Architecture and Details

This remarkable fountain is an example of Baroque architecture, characterized by its espaldar structure, meaning it is attached to a wall. The ensemble is crowned by a cornice and features four spouts, each adorned with a carved lion's head (carranca), through which water flowed in times past. In the center of the composition, a stone bearing the royal arms of D. João V stands out, indicating the era in which the monument was erected. An ancient inscription, still visible, perpetuates the memory of its construction.

The Essential Supply of the Past

Fonte da Pipa has roots dating back to the 14th century, a period when the site was already used for water capture. However, it was in the year 1736, during the reign of D. João V, that the current fountain was built. Its construction was financed in a peculiar way, through a tax on meat levied on the inhabitants of the town of Almada. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, this fountain played a vital role, being the main provider of potable water for local residents and a crucial supply point for ships calling at the port of Lisbon. It was common to see long queues of water carriers and women with pitchers on their heads, waiting their turn to collect and transport water to their homes or to the ships.

Memory of a Ribatejo Past

In addition to its role as a water supply source, Fonte da Pipa also served an important social function as a public laundry. Its name "da Pipa" is directly linked to the ancestral practice of transporting water in large wooden barrels, known as "pipas" (pipes or barrels), either by the water carriers who traded in it or by the crews of the vessels. Although its spring dried up permanently in the mid-20th century, with the arrival of piped water to homes, Fonte da Pipa remains a valuable testimony to daily life and the importance of water in the history of Almada.

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