Fidalgo Fountain

Category: Civil Architecture > Fountain

District: Setúbal > Santiago do Cacém > Santiago do Cacém > Vista Alegre

Location

The Fidalgo Fountain is located in the Vista Alegre area, an urban part of the town of Santiago do Cacém. This architectural element stands out in a small square, making it a visible and easily accessible landmark. Its presence on Estrada do Fidalgo marks a place of history and tradition within the town's fabric.

A Piece of Living History

Dating back to the 17th century and enhanced by interventions in the 19th century, the Fidalgo Fountain bears witness to the evolution of daily life in Santiago do Cacém. For centuries, it was an essential place for the community, serving a dual function. The larger tank served as a drinking trough for animals, a vital stopping point for livestock and beasts of burden, as the still visible rings demonstrate. In parallel, the complex included a public laundry, a reserved and fundamental space where local people gathered for their domestic chores. These functions reveal its central role in the social and economic life of the time.

Architecture and Detail

The architecture of the Fidalgo Fountain reflects the different eras it has passed through, combining baroque features with eclectic elements resulting from its enlargement between 1864 and 1868. The complex consists of an external rectangular tank, flanked by walls topped with cornices and volutes, with stone spouts that once supplied water. The laundry area, located on the left, is a walled enclosure accessed by two doors, with its main wall being particularly noteworthy. This wall is adorned with pilasters and a triangular pediment that incorporates a semicircular stone medallion, bearing the inscription "CM / 1868", which marks its renovation. Inside the laundry, it is possible to observe niches and iron bars that were used for hanging clothes, while the brick-lined walls and the paved floor highlight the authenticity of the traditional materials.

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