The world reflected in the water. The eighteenth-century hydraulic system of the São Martinho de Tibães Monastery, Braga

Abstract

The acquisition, distribution and use of water for the Sao Martinho de Tibaes monastery performed, throughout the 18th century, a very important issue to the Benedictines, who wisely invested in the monastery hydraulic system's recovery, improvement and enlargement. Its complexity and quality was widely enhanced with the Sao Bento staircase, also known as Rua das Fontes. This may, therefore, justified the special attention given by the recent global intervention project that took place at the monastery with the aim ofconserving and recovering the site, which presents itself today as a key heritage asset for the appreciation of the Tibaes monumental complex.