Parque das Águas

Parque das Águas is a green park in eastern Porto, in the Campanhã area, on the banks of the Douro (coordinates 41.144165, -8.590006). It covers roughly 68,500 m² and works as an open-air museum: among the trees stand fountains, tanks and drinking fountains that once decorated the city's public spaces.

What is Parque das Águas?

The park sits on the grounds of the headquarters of Águas e Energia do Porto, the city's water company. What makes it special is the way greenery meets the technical and artistic heritage of water. The collection includes pieces of historical value, some of them dating back to the 16th century.

Why are there so many fountains here?

After the municipal water and sanitation services were created in 1927, the former estate was expropriated to house their headquarters. From 1928, as water supply was strengthened for Porto and its surroundings, fountains, tanks and drinking fountains were gathered from streets, squares, markets and convents and brought here. They come from many parts of the city, including Lordelo do Ouro, Massarelos, Cedofeita, Miragaia, Sé, Santo Ildefonso, Bonfim and Campanhã. The result is a one-of-a-kind collection telling the story of the city through its water.

What is the history of the land?

The area has long had a leisure character. In the 17th century it belonged to the Quinta do Prado do Bispo, and on neighbouring land, the city's first public cemetery, Prado do Repouso, was built in the 19th century. From the remaining land a mansion with gardens was created, known as Quinta das Oliveiras, or the "Ingleses" estate, after its British owners. Today's park corresponds to the former wild part of that garden: a dense, exotic Romantic-style woodland typical of 19th-century estates of the wealthy bourgeoisie who prospered with Porto's industrial growth.

What is worth seeing?

• Fountains and tanks relocated from across the city. Each has its own form and origin, so a stroll feels like a tour through everyday city life of the past.
• Romantic greenery, with old trees and paths that echo the 19th-century garden.
• The Douro setting, which gives the place a calm, riverside feel.

Who is it for?

The park suits a quiet break from sightseeing, a walk with children, or a visit for anyone interested in city history, water infrastructure and small-scale architecture. Because it lies outside the busiest tourist centre, it tends to be calmer than the riverfront promenades. It pairs well with a day spent exploring eastern Porto around Campanhã.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Parque das Águas? In eastern Porto, in the Campanhã area on the Douro, on the grounds of the Águas e Energia do Porto headquarters.

How big is the park? About 68,500 m² of green space.

Why is it called the "Park of Waters"? Because it is an open-air museum about water, gathering fountains, tanks and drinking fountains moved from Porto's public spaces.

How old are the exhibits? Some have historical value and date back to the 16th century.

Is the park linked to older estates? Yes. It corresponds to the wild garden of Quinta das Oliveiras, a 19th-century mansion owned by a British family.