Fonte da Vila - Valença

On the west side, between the Lapa bastion and the São João bastion, there is a postern with round arches, with a passage covered by a barrel vault that leads to the moat and the Fonte da Vila.

At the front is the revelim of the Fonte da Vila, with side ramps for access to the cannons and a storage room in the collar, accessible through two straight doors with lintels.

The Fonte da Vila is a plunge fountain of medieval construction, probably from the 16th century , considered the main fountain of the city and depicted on the outside of the walled city by Duarte de Armas, remodeled in the 16th or 17th century. The vaulted fountain was remodeled during the military fortification of the fortress in the 16th or 17th century, possibly by a military engineer. An attempt was then made to create a backrest on one of the sides, albeit a very simple one, with two spouts, marked by a central cornice, and the royal coat of arms was placed between the fins, maintaining a reservoir on the side and the stairs to access the mine. The two tanks together must be of later date, especially the washbasin, both of which were fed by open gutters along the outer repair wall.

willem vandenameele