Located at the exit from Viana to Alcáçovas, the fountain Coberta gave the name to the surrounding area, mainly located to the north, designated by rocio das Hortas da Fonte Coberta, as well as to the road that passes next to it, formerly called path of Fonte Coberta.
Its existence is documented since the 15^th century, its name might have arisen from the fact that it possessed a structure that covered it (Coberta = Covered). The name fountain of the Rossio das Freiras has to be later than 1560, time when the monastery of Bom Jesus was built and the nuns of the Order of St. Jerome were accommodated.
It was meant to provide public service with emphasis on the supply for cattle. Hence the existence of the fountain called "do rossio das hortas" (common land gardens).
Topped with a triangular pediment and with a support wall accompanying the entire tank, until around 1965, it had a top finishing of "feigned" battlements with decorative intent. Over the spouts subsists a marble coat of arms from the time of King D. Manuel I, and in the pediment was inscribed Commission of the Pastures, 1904, because of the reconstruction works ordered by that same commission on this date.

REFERENCES
BAIÃO, Francisco, “A união faz a força”, Boletim Municipal do Município de Viana do Alentejo, nº68, Setembro de 2010, pp. 20-21.
ESPANCA, Túlio, Inventário Artístico de Portugal: Distrito de Évora: Concelhos de Alandroal, Borba, Mourão, Portel, Redondo, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Viana do Alentejo e Vila Viçosa, Lisboa, Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes, 1978,Tomo IX, Vol. 1.
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