The Portuguese Cistern is a historic cistern in El Jadida, Morocco. It is located beneath the citadel at the heart of the historic Portuguese fortified city of Mazagan. It is a classified cultural heritage monument in Morocco[1] and, along with the rest of the old walled city, forms part of a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[2]
The cistern was built beneath the Citadel, the original fort and first permanent structure that the Portuguese built on this site in 1514, before it was expanded into the larger walled fortress in 1541.[3][4] The chamber's original function is not clear. It may have been an armory, barracks,[5] or granary,[4] but it is recorded as having been converted into a cistern in 1541.[3][4] It was designed by an architect named Miguel de Arruda but the construction work was delegated to João de Castilho.[5] The cistern has been used as a filming location for several movies, of which Orson Welles' Othello is the best known internationally.[6]
Architectureedit
The semi-subterranean chamber has a roughly square plan measuring around 33 to 34 metres (108 to 112 ft) per side, was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars and columns.[3] The chamber is built in a late Gothic style known as Manueline.[3][7] A round opening in the center of the chamber served to collect rainwater.[3]
The cistern is known today for the visual impression created by the thin layer of water covering the floor, which creates ever-changing reflections from the single shaft of light through the central hole in the ceiling.[6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portuguese cistern of El Jadida.
Portuguese city (El Jadida).
Referencesedit
^France, PASS Technologie, 26, rue Louis Braille, 75012 Paris. "Citerne portugaise". idpc.ma (in French). Retrieved 2019-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
^ abcdeProposition d'inscription de biens sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial: Cité portugaise Mazagan (El Jadida) (Nomination text for UNESCO World Heritage List) (in French). 2004.
^ abcColin, G.S.; Cenival, P. de (1960–2007). "al-D̲j̲adīda". In Bearman, P.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Brill. ISBN9789004161214.
^ abLa citerne (Information sign). Posted inside museum, at entrance of cistern. 9 June 2015.
^ ab"Portuguese Cistern of El Jadida". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
^"Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)". Unesco. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
January 01, 1970
portuguese, cistern, mazagan, portuguese, cistern, historic, cistern, jadida, morocco, located, beneath, citadel, heart, historic, portuguese, fortified, city, mazagan, classified, cultural, heritage, monument, morocco, along, with, rest, walled, city, forms, . The Portuguese Cistern is a historic cistern in El Jadida Morocco It is located beneath the citadel at the heart of the historic Portuguese fortified city of Mazagan It is a classified cultural heritage monument in Morocco 1 and along with the rest of the old walled city forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site 2 Portuguese cistern Mazagan Portuguese Cistern in El JadidaShown within MoroccoLocationEl JadidaCoordinates33 15 24 239 N 8 30 9 857 W 33 25673306 N 8 50273806 W 33 25673306 8 50273806 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 External links 6 ReferencesHistory editThe cistern was built beneath the Citadel the original fort and first permanent structure that the Portuguese built on this site in 1514 before it was expanded into the larger walled fortress in 1541 3 4 The chamber s original function is not clear It may have been an armory barracks 5 or granary 4 but it is recorded as having been converted into a cistern in 1541 3 4 It was designed by an architect named Miguel de Arruda but the construction work was delegated to Joao de Castilho 5 The cistern has been used as a filming location for several movies of which Orson Welles Othello is the best known internationally 6 Architecture editThe semi subterranean chamber has a roughly square plan measuring around 33 to 34 metres 108 to 112 ft per side was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars and columns 3 The chamber is built in a late Gothic style known as Manueline 3 7 A round opening in the center of the chamber served to collect rainwater 3 The cistern is known today for the visual impression created by the thin layer of water covering the floor which creates ever changing reflections from the single shaft of light through the central hole in the ceiling 6 Gallery edit nbsp nbsp See also editPortuguese EmpireExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portuguese cistern of El Jadida Portuguese city El Jadida References edit France PASS Technologie 26 rue Louis Braille 75012 Paris Citerne portugaise idpc ma in French Retrieved 2019 11 20 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Portuguese City of Mazagan El Jadida UNESCO World Heritage Centre Retrieved 2022 10 10 a b c d e Proposition d inscription de biens sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial Cite portugaise Mazagan El Jadida Nomination text for UNESCO World Heritage List in French 2004 a b c Colin G S Cenival P de 1960 2007 al D j adida In Bearman P Bianquis Th Bosworth C E van Donzel E Heinrichs W P eds Encyclopaedia of Islam Second Edition Brill ISBN 9789004161214 a b La citerne Information sign Posted inside museum at entrance of cistern 9 June 2015 a b Portuguese Cistern of El Jadida Atlas Obscura Retrieved May 25 2020 Portuguese City of Mazagan El Jadida Unesco Retrieved May 25 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portuguese Cistern Mazagan amp oldid 1162194021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
