MEMORY FOUNTAINS

A route that reveals a characteristic feature of water's cultural heritage: relocation. Many fountains and water features have graced the city of Porto over the years. Some have survived to this day, while others, or parts of them, survive as museum pieces, preserved in the Museu Portuense collection and in the city's gardens and parks.

In the history of the city of Porto, many water structures were built to ensure the city's water supply, with the first known written reference mentioning the existence of public fountains in the city of Porto dating back to 1392. Fountains, water taps, and water tanks were part of a supply system that took advantage of the city's water resources. With the development of the city, industry, and population growth, the springs were no longer able to supply the city. When the spring dried up or was no longer of sufficient quality, the structures were demolished and sometimes rebuilt in other locations, according to the needs of the people of Porto. Other times, parts of them were used in the construction of other fountains or buildings. In addition to water quality, there were other reasons for their demolition, such as the state of conservation of the fountains, the construction of buildings in the city, or the extinction of religious orders in 1834, which led to the demolition of monastic complexes and forced the transfer of their possessions.