The Hydraulic Systems of the Convent of St. Anthony of Paraguaçu (Bahia, Brazil)

Abstract

In architectural history of the Franciscans in north-eastern Brazil, one of the monuments occupying a prominent place is, without doubt, the Convent of Santo Antonio do Paraguaçu, founded in 1649. This old monastic center is settled in Iguape Bay margin (Cachoeira region, Bahia), in the inland sea known as “Recôncavo Bahiano”. The convent is nowadays very neglected and in tumble-down state, following the official restrictions on the admission of novices and the imperial decree of compulsory closing of the Novitiate convents. These compulsory measures eclipsed gradually and inevitably their importance and primitive baroque beauty and led to the dispersal and squandering of their most notable artistic heritage. After a brief historical, geographical and artistic summary, a preliminary study of the hydrographic conditions of the settlement area was done, as well as of the hydraulic systems of the convent, from captation to final disposal. If the informations concerning the potable water system are few and vague, other systems show yet important remains as the kitchen system, presenting an arched acqueduct coming from a well where a high axis noria have existed. In the surrounding area of the conventual building several other wells existed, some of them for the irrigation of the monastic kitchen garden and another one, close to the quay, to support clearing operations probably. The elevation of water coming from these wells would be done through buckets driven by crank braces (sweeps). Some technical data of other systems are also examined in our study, with a special emphasis in what concerns the main sewerege disposal whose typology can be considered rare, at least in Bazilian territory. Finally the perspectives of usage for tourism of part of the hydraulic systems are also discussed as well as the main guidelines concerning the valorization of the site.