Bica da Rainha, Historical fountain in Cosme Velho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bica da Rainha is a stone fountain in Cosme Velho fed by a natural spring, surrounded by trees and vegetation that shade the area. The structure is simple and practical, with water flowing through old pipes to multiple collection points where visitors and locals fill their containers.

The fountain was built in the 19th century and named after Queen Maria I of Portugal, who visited to benefit from its healing waters. The place gained further royal recognition when other members of the royal family also came to drink from the spring.

The name comes from Queen Maria I of Portugal, called "Maria, a louca", who was brought here by her daughter-in-law Carlota Joaquina to drink the spring water. The court ladies who trailed the queen up the Carioca valley gave rise to the popular saying "Maria vai com as outras", for someone who follows the crowd.

The site is easy to reach on foot from the Corcovado Train station and has an open structure accessible at any time of day. Bring a container if you want to collect water, and wear sturdy shoes since the ground can be uneven and sometimes slippery.

The water flows from a natural spring that has never run dry, even as the city transformed and expanded around it over centuries. This makes it a rare window into an older Rio de Janeiro where natural water sources were woven into daily life.