Moorish Doors Fountain (Fonte das Portas de Moura), Evora

The Moorish Doors Fountain stands as a testament to the visionary urban renewal efforts of Cardinal D. Henrique, who served as the Archbishop of Évora. During his time, the city's physical landscape underwent a remarkable transformation, with one of the most notable additions being the construction of the Moorish Doors Fountain at Giraldo Square. This development also entailed the dismantling of the old triumphal arch, where the original termination point of the Silver Aqueduct stood.

Located within one of the most iconic squares of the 16th century Évora, encompassed by stately manor houses belonging to prominent families, the Moorish Doors Fountain was formally inaugurated on December 4, 1556, as indicated by the inscription on the marble sphere. Historical records attribute the creation of this remarkable fountain to Diogo de Torralva, who concurrently supervised the construction of the Aqueduct.

The design of the Moorish Doors Fountain is characterized by its dual rectangular basins, with the primary basin situated at a higher elevation. Access to this higher basin is granted via a platform featuring three ascending steps. Within this basin, a captivating fountain takes center stage - a marble sphere supported by a circular pedestal. Notably, this sphere is adorned with intricately crafted high-relief seraphim, depicting four fountains that contribute to the water supply of the basins below.