Fonte de Mouzinho da Silveira: a bridge, a fountain, and a shop
In 1872, Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira was designed, and one of the city's oldest streets, Rua de Pelames, dating back to medieval times, was considered for removal. Instead, a large arch was designed to support the street, and a fountain with two spouts and a large tank, the Fonte Monumental de Mouzinho da Silveira, was designed for the interior of the arch. The west spout was supplied by the springs of Paranhos and Salgueiros, while the east spout received water from a fountain installed on Rua do Almada. Later, it received water from the Arca do Mercado do Anjo, which continued to the Fonte da Praça da Ribeira.
Before the street was opened, there was a fountain in a monumental Baroque-style square with a grand staircase leading to the upper level where the hexagonal Chapel of São Roque was located. The fountain consisted of a sculptural ensemble featuring Eros and a dolphin in the center and a large tank that received the water. The ensemble was framed by an opening in the center of the staircase. The half-orange-shaped square was Largo do Souto or Largo de São Roque. Next to the rear elevation of the chapel was Rua dos Pelames. The square, fountain, and chapel were demolished to make way for the street. The sculptural ensemble is preserved in the lapidary collection of the Soares dos Reis National Museum.
This location was also marked by the piping of the Vila River in 1763 during the construction of Rua de São João and later. The remaining flow was piped in 1875 when Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira was opened.
To learn more about the Rio de Vila, click here.
In the 1920s, two shops selling bread and biscuits were installed in the monumental space of the fountain, and the constituent parts of the fountain were numbered and preserved in the SMAS facilities. To supply water to the area, the Fonte do Souto fountain was installed at the entrance to the street of the same name, where it still stands today.
On December 21, 1965, Bernardino Basto Fabião's project to rebuild the fountain was approved, bringing it back to the city.
Before the street was opened, there was a fountain in a monumental Baroque-style square with a grand staircase leading to the upper level where the hexagonal Chapel of São Roque was located. The fountain consisted of a sculptural ensemble featuring Eros and a dolphin in the center and a large tank that received the water. The ensemble was framed by an opening in the center of the staircase. The half-orange-shaped square was Largo do Souto or Largo de São Roque. Next to the rear elevation of the chapel was Rua dos Pelames. The square, fountain, and chapel were demolished to make way for the street. The sculptural ensemble is preserved in the lapidary collection of the Soares dos Reis National Museum.
This location was also marked by the piping of the Vila River in 1763 during the construction of Rua de São João and later. The remaining flow was piped in 1875 when Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira was opened.
To learn more about the Rio de Vila, click here.
In the 1920s, two shops selling bread and biscuits were installed in the monumental space of the fountain, and the constituent parts of the fountain were numbered and preserved in the SMAS facilities. To supply water to the area, the Fonte do Souto fountain was installed at the entrance to the street of the same name, where it still stands today.
On December 21, 1965, Bernardino Basto Fabião's project to rebuild the fountain was approved, bringing it back to the city.
