Here are some of the most incredible Portuguese squares.

Almost every locality in Portugal has a square, or praça, as the Portuguese call them, however, some of them are incredibly spectacular and deserve to be visited, to learn more about Portuguese architecture.


Praça Rodrigues Lobo

Known as Praça de São Martinho until 1910, the square in Leiria was one of the first places people moved when the city expanded beyond the castle walls. Old buildings surround it as well as coffee shops. Most of the beauty resides in the central part of the square. With patterns made in Calçada Portuguesa, the square is the perfect place to admire part of the Portuguese culture on the street.

Next to the river, with trees and benches, Praça Rodrigues Lobo is a great place to enjoy a peaceful moment or to enjoy the Portuguese culture.


Praça do Giraldo

Located in the centre of Évora, in Alentejo, it is named after Geraldo Geraldes, who defeated the Moors in Évora in 1167. In the square, there is a fountain with eight spouts, built with marble. On the top of the fount, there is a crown, which is believed to have been placed by King Filipe III, of Spain, who thought that the fount deserved to be crowned. Currently, one of the square’s main attractions is the Igreja de Santo Antão, which really deserves to be visited.


Praça Gonçalo Velho Cabral

The square in Ponta Delgada, in São Miguel Island, in the Azores archipelago is dedicated to Gonçalo Velho Cabral, the navigator who discovered the territory of Santa Maria and São Miguel islands. The homage is being paid through the statue built by José Fragoso.

The beauty of this square resides in the Calçada Portuguesa patterns of the floor, very close to the magnificent Portas da Cidade, in Ponta Delgada.

Praça 8 de Maio

Located in downtown Coimbra, the square is the linking point for local shops, leading people to the river, or Rua da Sofia. Besides the City Hall, in this square, there is also Igreja de Santa Cruz, built in the 10th century. It is common to listen to street artists playing music or presenting shows. The place is also an important political location, not only because of historical events but also because most of the demonstrations that happen in Coimbra will, eventually, pass through Praça 8 de Maio.


Praça da República

There are plenty of squares in Portugal called Praça da República, however, the one located in Elvas, Portalegre district, deserves to be highlighted.

Placed in front of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, the square started to be built in 1511, after Elvas was considered a city. The place is sought after by locals and tourists, especially during the summer time, to enjoy a drink at the terraces spread through the square. Praça da República is also the place where the Medieval Fair of Elvas takes place, and summer festivals such as Festival Noites de Verão.


Honourable mentions

It will be hard to find a single city or village, in Portugal, that does not have a square. All of them have the purpose of gathering people, to enjoy great moments in a beautiful place. Not all could be mentioned in this article, but it is important to still highlight some squares in Portugal, such as Praça do Comércio, in Lisbon or Praça da Liberdade, in Porto. Also Praça Marquês de Pombal, in Vila Real de Santo António, or Praça do Município in Funchal, Madeira.

Author

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos