Sete Fontes (Braga)

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Coordinates: 41°34′10″N, 8°24′16″W Sete Fontes (Seven Springs) is part of a water supply system built in mid-18th century that supplied potable water to the city of Braga until the first half of the 20th century. Currently there are only 6 springs because one was destroyed in the early 1990's to give space for houses.

The remaining parts of Sete Fontes consists of the 6 springs housed in "Mãe de aguas" (mothers of waters) and connect via aqueducts that runs at surface level or in a underground system ("minas"). There are also to cylindrical shaped buildings that are part of the system.

Placed in the outskirts, on the site "Areal de Cima" parish of São Victor close to the Roman Geira (route XVIII). The use of the springs might even date back to roman times when Braga was called Bracara Augusta. In fact, until the start up of the water collection system from the Cávado river in 1914 the Sete Fontes were the main source of water supply to the city. Still today water is running through the system.

1 Construction
2 Description
3 Destruction
4 Classification as national monument
5 External links
6 External links in Portuguese

[edit] Construction

The main parts of the system was built between 1744 and 1752 under the aegis of the Archbishop D. José de Bragança (1741-1756), although it is known that his predecessor D. Rodrigo de Moura Telles (1704-1728) already had made numerous handiworks. D. Frei (Friar) Caetano Brandão (1790-1805) is believed to have ordered the opening of the Mine of the Orphans (Mina dos orphaons) (1804) to supply water to the homonymous institution, which he founded.

[edit] Description

The Sete Fontes complex consists of a cluster of aqueducts and structures which stretch over cerca 3500 metres. The whole is segmented into 14 underground galleries and 6 junction nodes in an ensemble all built in stone. The more prominent features are the commonly called "Mães de Água" (Mothers of Water). These are made in Baroque architecture style as by their cylindrical structure provided with a vaulted dome trimmed by circular cornices and topped with pinnacles. Each "Mães de Água" is ornamented by the coat of arms of the patron.

These names of the "Mães de Água" might not be so in widespread use nowadays. Counting from the structure at highest ground they are called (with year stated on them): Mina do Dr. Amorim (1752), Mina do Dr. Nozes, Mina do Dr. Sampaio; Mina dos Órfãos (1804) (it acutally says Mina dos Orfaons on it), Mina das Freiras, Mina do Dr. Alvim - de cima, Mina do Dr. Alvim - de baixo (1744) with the closeby Mina Preta, Mina de Xedas (or Chedas as is the more commonly used name). There are also two cylindrical shapes (next to Mina dos Órfãos and Freiras) structures that are called “respiros” ( breaths).

This water supply system is a unique specimen of the 18th century Portuguese engineering ranging from the conception of the galleries and visit chambers; in the system's overall layout in the underground and surface piping following the water sources and the topography of the valley. These piping are delicate pieces of work as seen in the design to make each element fit snugly together. Through them the water flow across branches that can be as much as one hundred metres long between the junction nodes.

Of the original aqueduct system there still are 13 water springs with excellent water quality. These are under still maintained by the municipal water supply company. This conducts periodic analysis of the water's quality, as well as providing two keepers that maintain and clean the system. The Sete Fontes could easily be said to form an invaluable underground water resource located inside the urban area that due to its characteristics is an important added value in any strategic plan for the city of Braga. Notably the water of the fountains of the town squares Largo do Paço and Largo Carlos Amarante's comes from Sete Fontes.

[edit] Destruction

In the City Plan for Braga from 1999 the upper end of the Sete Fontes was planned to be destroyed to give space for a national road. In a public consultation from 2003 regarding this planned 4 lane road it was explained that more than half of the Sete Fontes would have to be destroyed [1]. One should also consider that the Sete Fontes are located in an area of urban expansion of which parts have been bought by enterprises connected to the real state business without any current plans or details being laid down aimed at preserving and rehabilitating this heritage.

[edit] Classification as national monument

Most of the remaining parts of the system is on private land so it has been proved to be difficult to conserve and promote the system as a Portuguese national heritage. The Portuguese NGO ASPA (Association for the Defense, Study and Promotion of the Natural and Cultural Patrimony) has long been promoting the Sete Fontes as a national monument. Even to the point that they on March the 27th 1995 asked the IPPAR - Portuguese Institute for the Architectonic and Archaeological Patrimony - to classify the Sete Fontes as a national monument(Reference 95/3-15 (1)) . In 2003 it was put on the official evaluation list to become a national monument. On May 29 2003 it was by the Minister of Culture classified as national monument.