Queen's Spout
A 19th-century fountain named for Queen Maria I of Portugal, though she never visited.
The Queen's Fountain, known in Portuguese as Bica da Rainha, sits on Cosme Velho Street in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone, near the Cosme Velho Station of the Corcovado Train. Built in the 1800s, it was designed to draw water from a local spring. Its name honors Queen Maria I of Portugal, though her personal visit to the site is historically unsubstantiated.
People have come to the fountain since the 1700s, believing its water could heal ailments like anemia. This reputation caught the attention of Carlota Joaquina of Spain, who began visiting regularly. She then recommended the spot to her mother-in-law, Queen Maria I, who never visited due to her seclusion after being declared insane in 1792. Because of these royal connections, locals called it the Queen's Fountain. The National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) listed it as a historical heritage site in 1938. In 2014, the fountain’s original landscape design was restored by Bem Verde & Horta e Jardim, replanting the garden with native Brazilian flora.
- named_after
- Queen Maria I of Portugal (honorary, not due to personal visit)
- associated_person
- Carlota Joaquina of Spain (recommended the site to her mother-in-law, Queen Maria I)
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- Bica da Rainha
- Location
- Rio de Janeiro, Cosme Velho - / Brazil
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Since the 18th century, the site has been visited by people who believed that the water had healing properties, such as curing anemia. This belief attracted the attention of Carlota Joaquina of Spain, who began frequenting the fountain. Carlota Joaquina reportedly recommended the place to her mother-in-law, Queen Maria I, though Maria I never visited due to her mental health and seclusion. As a result, the locals began calling the fountain 'Bica da Rainha' (Queen's Fountain).
Reader's Guide
The Queen's Fountain is a historical landmark in Rio de Janeiro, notable for its association with Portuguese royalty and local folk beliefs. Its water was long thought to cure anemia, drawing visitors since the 18th century. The fountain's name honors Queen Maria I of Portugal, who visited after a recommendation from Carlota Joaquina of Spain. Listed as a heritage site by IPHAN in 1938, the fountain underwent a restoration in 2014 that reconstituted its original garden with native Brazilian plants. The site remains a tangible link to colonial-era Rio, blending natural springs, royal patronage, and popular healing traditions.
Did You Know?
- The fountain was constructed in the 19th century to channel water from a nearby spring.
- It was named 'Bica da Rainha' in honor of Queen Maria I of Portugal, though her visit is historically unsubstantiated.
- The monument was listed as a historical heritage site by IPHAN in 1938.
- In 2014, the fountain underwent a restoration that reconstituted the original garden with plants from the flora of Brazil.
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