Sete Fontes (Braga) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Sete Fontes is part of a water supply system built in mid-18th century that supplied potable water to the city of Braga

Braga

Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...

, Portugal

Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

until the first half of the 20th century. Currently there are only 6 springs because one was destroyed in the early 1990s 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 aqueduct

Aqueduct

An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....

s that runs at surface level or in an 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

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

times when Braga

Braga

was called Bracara Augusta. In fact, until the start up of the water collection system from the Cávado

Cávado River

The Cávado River is a river located in north Portugal.It has its source in Serra do Larouco at 1520 meters. It runs 135 km from Gouveia to its mouth into the Atlantic Ocean next to the city of Esposende...

river in 1914 the Sete Fontes were the main source of water supply to the city, and was used as such til 1929. Still today water is running through the system.

Construction

The main parts of the system was built between 1744 and 1752 under the aegis of the Archbishop D. José de Bragança

Joseph, Archbishop of Braga

José of Braganza, Archbishop of Braga was a natural son of Portuguese King Peter II and a Portuguese lady named Francisca Clara da Silva.He studied at the University of Évora and achieved a doctorate in Theology...

(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.

Description

The Sete Fontes complex consists of a cluster of aqueducts and structures which stretch over about 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

Baroque architecture

Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...

style as by their cylindrical structure provided with a vaulted dome

Dome

A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....

trimmed by circular cornices and topped with pinnacles. Each "Mães de Água" is ornamented by the coat of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

of the patron

Patrón

Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...

,.

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 actually says Mina dos Orfaons on it), Mina das Freiras, Mina do Dr. Alvim - de cima, Mina do Dr. Alvim - de baixo (1744) with the close by Mina Preta, Mina das Verdosas 1, Mina das Verdosas 2 (destroyed in 2011) and Mina de Xedas (or Chedas as is the more commonly used name) and Mina de Adelino Correia (destroyed in 1995). 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. At the complex there are also two faucets Bica Pública das Sete Fontes (near Mina do Dr Amorim) and Poça da Monte (near Mina das Verdosas 1). The water from the former is check regularly (almost monthly) by the Freguesia (Portugal) de São Vítor

São Vítor

São Victor is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Braga. It has a population of 25,407 and a total area of .-Main sights:*Sete Fontes...

Destruction

Sete Fontes was mentioned in the City Plans for Braga

Braga

in 1994. Mina de Adelino Correia was destroyed in 1995. Rumour has it that the stones are stored somewhere in Braga. 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 road with higher classification than national road. In a public consultation

Public consultation

Public consultation, or simply consultation, is a regulatory process by which the public's input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies...

from 2003 regarding this planned 2+2 lane road it was explained that more than half of the Sete Fontes would have to be destroyed but the initial study for the EIA

EIA

EIA may refer to:*Edmonton International Airport*EIA Multiport, a North American NTSC SCART connector*Electronic Industries Alliance , a US trade organization...

noted that at least 5 of the aqueducts and many of Minas would be affected but according to the authors IPPAR had stated the works could be done if properly monitored and the aqueducts were restored after the construction was finished, but so far no official statement to that effect has been found.

One should also consider that the Sete Fontes are located in an area of urban expansion of which parts have been bought by companies connected to the real estate

Real estate

In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...

business without any at that time any plans or details being laid down aimed at preserving and rehabilitating this heritage

Cultural heritage

Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...

. From 1995 onwards the City Hall of Braga

Braga

have on a few occasions stated it will act to preserve Sete Fontes as a National monument

Monuments of Portugal

The Monuments of Portugal were constructed throughout the Portuguese territory, and date back to the period of pre-historic settlement of occupation. Subsequently, the region that is today Portugal has been colonized by many civilizations, which have left marks in the territory, constructing...

and transform the area into a city park, but so far the City Plans have continued to include a large road straight through and over, and classified most of the terrain as appropriate for building,. In the 1999/2000 City Plan three of the upper Minas were within an area classified as public utility, probably referring to the plans to build a hospital here. But also part of the terrain then belonged to the armed forces

Armed forces

The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...

. The new hospital was officially contemplated in 2002. At least once the City Hall of Braga has attempted to impede the classification.
By Portuguese law the authorised agency (IPPAR/IGESPAR/DRCNorte) have to give explicit approval for works taking place within the 50 metre zone. So far no such approvals have been posted under the classification file on the site of IGESPAR http://www.igespar.pt/pt/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/156333/. In 2009 the Estradas de Portugal also had the idea to put a bridge over Sete Fontes,.

In 2008 a large part of the terrain was put on sale, ca 57950 m² including Minas das Verdosas 1 and 2, Mina dos Orfãos (Orfaons), Respiro near Mina das Freiras, and half Mina das Freiras, and the concerned aqueducts and underground galleries. The president of the Junta da Freguesia S. Vitor thinks it would be of interest to get clarity about the transactions of the lands including Sete Fontes. Apparently he asked the City Hall for the transaction extracts but have after many years not received any answers. The director of DRC Norte also confirms there have been promises to build on the premises of Sete Fontes. So did the City Hall in claiming that the density of building in Sete Fontes area will be 25% less than first expected in the detail plan for Sete Fontes. The opposition

Opposition

Opposition may mean or refer to:* Opposition , a term describing the position of a celestial body* Opposition , a term describing the position of the kings relative to each other...

instead suggested that the City Hall should offer the land owners to swop lands since this is a procedure that was successfully implemented when planning for another park near the new football stadium. On this line the City Hall claims they will ensure a 20 hectares park including Sete Fontes, but notably the proposed ZEP (see below section) would imply a park of 56 hectares.

The construction of the new hospital

Hospital

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....

(Escala Braga) is partly on top of the Sete Fontes. At the time the constructions started IGESPAR claimed not to be aware of this. Apparently the construction company had ignored the presence of Sete Fontes. The construction company has expelled at least one of the archaeologist that by law has to accompany the progress of the construction. Much of the loose soil

Soil

Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...

during construction has been swept down by rain water over the area of Sete Fontes, impaired the structural integrity of at least one of the underground galleries, disfigured the landscape and created new ditches within Sete Fontes, especially affecting Mina dos Orfaons. Some Roman

Ancient Rome

remains have been found in the area. At least one ventilation shaft

Ventilation shaft

In subterranean civil engineering, ventilation shafts, also known as airshafts or vent shafts, are vertical passages used in mines and tunnels to move fresh air underground, and to remove stale air....

for the underground gallery leading water to Mina dos Orfaons has been disturbed. The constructors have put up a fence

Fence

A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...

(with start in the very end of 2008) within the 50 meter demarcation

Demarcation

Demarcation is the act of creating a boundary around a place or thing.Demarcation may also refer to:*Demarcation line, a temporary border between the countries...

zone that is the minimum by Portuguese law. Mina das Verdosas 2 and its underground gallery were torn down in February 2011 because of a new road,. The authorities (DRC Norte Estradas de Portugal and the chief of the cabinet of the secretary of state for culture) all claim that both Mina das Verdosas 1 and 2 never were part of Sete Fontes, but the reality would seem to be that they never were included in the classification process by IPPAR/IGESPAR. This probably also why both Estradas de Portugal and the Braga

Braga

City Hall

City hall

In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...

claimed that the access road to the hospital would not affect Sete Fontes,. Still in early 2011 the GIS system of the City Hall of Braga classified most of the terrains as suitable for construction, i.e. all of it except the part that is now the new hospital.

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

Cultural heritage

. The Portuguese NGO ASPA (Association for the Defence, Study and Promotion of the Natural and Cultural Patrimony) has long been promoting the Sete Fontes as a National monument

Monuments of Portugal

. Even to the point that they on March the 27th 1995 asked IPPAR

IPPAR

The Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico , former Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico , is the public institute tasked with the conservation, preservation, and inventory of the Portuguese architectural heritage. This includes buildings and sites of...

- the Portuguese Institute for the Architectonic and Archaeological Patrimony - to classify the Sete Fontes as a national monument (Reference 95/3-15 (1)). The process started very soon after that request,. In 2001 a proposal for the general protection zone (i.e. the 50 metres zone) was published signed by the mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

of Braga. Notably parts of Sete Fontes were not included in the proposed general protection

Protection

Protection may refer to:-Music:*Protection , by Massive Attack*"Protection" *"Protection" *"Protection," a song by Krokus from To You All...

zone

Zone

-Places:France* Any of several divisions during the German occupation of France during World War IIGermany* The Zone , a derogatory term for the German Democratic RepublicGreece...

, including the two Minas das Verdosas (1 and 2), and the last stretch of the aqueduct

Aqueduct

until Rua de Areal em Cima, and no special mention of the water basin. It was, however, clearly stated that explicit

Explicit

Explicit can mean:* Sexually explicit, content that might be deemed offensive or graphic* the final words of a text, which are immediately followed by a colophon...

authorisation is needed from IPPAR

IPPAR

(current IGESPAR) to demolish, remove, expropriate, restore or transform Sete Fontes. In 2003 Sete Fontes was put on the official evaluation

Evaluation

Evaluation is systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone using criteria against a set of standards.Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises, including the arts, criminal justice,...

list to become a national monument. The consultative council of IPPAR suggested to propose Sete Fontes as national monument early May 2003. Later the same month the Minister of Culture

Minister of culture

A culture minister is a Cabinet position in some governments responsible for protecting the national heritage of a country and promoting cultural expression....

classified (PT : homologado) as if were a national monument (homologado).

In May 2009 the Ministry of Culture suggested setting up a special protection zone (Zona Especial de Protecção - ZEP) around the Sete Fontes, a suggestion was published later that year although the official

Official

An official is someone who holds an office in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority .A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public...

definition

Definition

A definition is a passage that explains the meaning of a term , or a type of thing. The term to be defined is the definiendum. A term may have many different senses or meanings...

of the ZEP has yet to be revealed. Notably, still parts of Sete Fontes were not included in the proposed ZEP, such as the Minas das Verdosas 1 and 2, and the last stretch of the aqueduct up to Rua Areal em Cima, and again, no special mention of the water basin. The publication of this proposed ZEP also opened it for public feedback, albeit all submitted claims and/or suggestions were officially summarily turned down,. A petition

Petition

A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....

undersigned by over 6000 persons was handed over to the president of the Portuguese parliament in mid-2010. Soon after followed a parliamentary discussion after which the parliament issued two official statements in support of classifying Sete Fontes as a national monument,. By law the Sete Fontes had to be classified by end of 2010, otherwise the classification would be lost, but on the very last day of 2010 the time limit

Time limit

A time limit or deadline is a narrow field of time, or particular point in time, by which an objective or task must be accomplished.In project management, deadlines are most often associated with milestone goals....

was officially postponed for another year

Year

A year is the orbital period of the Earth moving around the Sun. For an observer on Earth, this corresponds to the period it takes the Sun to complete one course throughout the zodiac along the ecliptic....

. The Portuguese Council of Ministers on 2011-03-03 decreed proceeding with the classification of Sete Fontes as a national monument http://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/GC18/Governo/ConselhoMinistros/ComunicadosCM/Pages/20110303.aspx. The official notification in Portuguese Official Journal

Official Journal

Official Journal may refer to the public journal of several nations and other political organizations:* Belgian Official Journal* Journal Officiel de la République Française* Official Journal of the European Patent Office...

(Diário da República

Diário da República

Diário da República is the official gazette of Portugal. Before 1976, it was called Diário do Governo.It is published by Imprensa Nacional and comprises two Series. Laws, Decree-laws, decisions of the Constitutional Court and other relevant texts are published in the I Series. Regulations, public...

) was published in 2011 as well as the definition of the special zone of protection (ZEP). Large part of this zone has already been invaded by the new hospital and its access roads. Also, Mina das Verdosas 1 & 2 should be protected since they are inside this zone, alas 2 is already destroyed and 1 has suffered some further damages. Oddly, some of the terrain inside the ZEP is still for sale including a large part of the access roads.

External links

(Reference 95/3-15 (1)) IPPAR
IPPAR
The Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico , former Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico , is the public institute tasked with the conservation, preservation, and inventory of the Portuguese architectural heritage. This includes buildings and sites of...

/ IGESPAR registration record on Sete Fontes
Braga Virtual on Sete Fontes
List of cultural heritage in Freguesia S. Vitor in Braga
Sete Fontes on JovemCoop
ASPA - Associção para a Defesa, estudo, e divulgação do património cultural e natural
Archiscan article about Sete Fontes - by Prof. Miguel Bandeira at University of Minho
University of Minho
The University of Minho is a public university in Portugal, divided in the following spaces:* Largo do Paço , in Braga* Campus of Gualtar, in Braga* Superior School of Nursing, in Braga...

.
A collection of photos of the Sete Fontes complex placed on Panoramio.

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