Chafariz da Praça da Rainha, fontanário em Viana do Castelo
The Chafariz da Praça da Rainha is a granite fountain in Viana do Castelo with a round basin and carved decorations along its edges. The structure features rounded columns with plant-inspired patterns and is topped with two bowls and a cone-shaped cover.
The fountain was built around 1550 when the city wanted to show its prosperity and community pride. It was designed by master mason João Lopes and belongs to a series of three similar fountains created by him across the region.
The fountain takes its name from the queen and stands in the city's central square where locals and visitors gather. Its presence has shaped this public space for hundreds of years, reflecting how the town valued water and community gathering places.
The fountain sits in the center of Praça da República and is easily reached on foot from most of the city center. You can walk around it to view the carved details up close, and the spot is most pleasant when fewer people are around.
The protective fence that once surrounded the fountain was removed in the early 1900s, changing how the space appeared. Despite this removal, the fountain structure itself has remained largely intact, making it one of the few 16th-century public works that has survived with relatively little alteration.
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