It is located in downtown Porto, in the parish of Santo Ildefonso, city and municipality of Porto, Northern Portugal.
Origin of the name of Praça da Liberdade: Antiga Praça D. Pedro
Previously, the current Praça da Liberdade was called Casal or Lugar de Paio de Novais and Sítio or Fonte da Arca (during the 15th century), Lugar or Praça da Natividade (after 1682), Quinta, Campo or Sítio das Hortas (until 1711), Praça Nova das Hortas (after 1711); Constitution Square (1820); Praça de D. Pedro IV (1833) and although for a few days it was called Praça da República (October 13, 1910).
The current name “Liberty Square” was adopted on October 27, 1910, and the name is an allusion to the republican system of government.
The current name “Liberty Square” was adopted on October 27, 1910, and the name is an allusion to the republican system of government.
History of Praça da Liberdade (Porto)
In 1718, a new project was launched, with the Cabido da Sé providing the land necessary to open the square, and new streets were created, such as Rua do Laranjal das Hortas (now disappeared) and Rua da Cruz (currently Rua da Fábrica).
The completion of this project would result in Praça Nova, limited to the north by two palaces where, between 1819 and 1915, the Town Hall operated, to the east by the Convento dos Congregados; to the south by a section of the Fernandina Wall (destroyed in 1788) to make way for the Convent of Santo Elói, only completed in the 19th century and currently called Palácio das Cardosas, and the west side, only built later.
The installation of the City Council building on the site (1819), the inauguration of the Ponte de D. Luís (1887), the construction of the São Bento Station were decisive factors for the so-called Praça de D. Pedro IV to become the political, economic and social center of the city of Porto (mid-19th century).
In Praça de D. Pedro IV, taverns predominated, later giving way to banking entities, insurance companies and offices.
Construction work began on the wide Avenida dos Aliados, at the top of which the modern Porto City Hall was built (a large building in granite and marble, a 1920 project by the architect Correia da Silva.
Praça da Liberdade was thus linked to the new Avenida dos Aliados and Praça do General Humberto Delgado in an urban complex of great monumentality and of particular historical and artistic interest.
Currently in Praça da Liberdade there are the following monuments: Equestrian Statue of D. Pedro IV in the center of the square, on the west side the Banco de Portugal (Porto delegation), O Porto Statue and Ardina Statue.
The completion of this project would result in Praça Nova, limited to the north by two palaces where, between 1819 and 1915, the Town Hall operated, to the east by the Convento dos Congregados; to the south by a section of the Fernandina Wall (destroyed in 1788) to make way for the Convent of Santo Elói, only completed in the 19th century and currently called Palácio das Cardosas, and the west side, only built later.
The installation of the City Council building on the site (1819), the inauguration of the Ponte de D. Luís (1887), the construction of the São Bento Station were decisive factors for the so-called Praça de D. Pedro IV to become the political, economic and social center of the city of Porto (mid-19th century).
In Praça de D. Pedro IV, taverns predominated, later giving way to banking entities, insurance companies and offices.
Construction work began on the wide Avenida dos Aliados, at the top of which the modern Porto City Hall was built (a large building in granite and marble, a 1920 project by the architect Correia da Silva.
Praça da Liberdade was thus linked to the new Avenida dos Aliados and Praça do General Humberto Delgado in an urban complex of great monumentality and of particular historical and artistic interest.
Currently in Praça da Liberdade there are the following monuments: Equestrian Statue of D. Pedro IV in the center of the square, on the west side the Banco de Portugal (Porto delegation), O Porto Statue and Ardina Statue.
Avenida dos Aliados
Avenida dos Aliados is an important street in Baixa do Porto, parish of Santo Ildefonso, city of Porto, northern Portugal.
Avenida dos Aliados with Praça da Liberdade and Praça do General Humberto Delgado constitutes a continuous urban fabric, and is considered the main avenue and center of the city of Porto.
Avenida dos Aliados, initially Avenida das Nações Aliadas, was opened in 1916, on land north of Praça da Liberdade.
Avenida dos Aliados is characterized by a wide avenue surrounded by buildings of great architectural beauty in the neoclassical style, and at the top of this avenue is the City Hall, along the avenue a Statue of a Naked Girl (Fountain of Youth and is a sculpture by Henrique Moreira), the “Os Meninos” (A Abundance) Sculpture, the Monument to Almeida Garrett (the artist Salvador Barata Feyo), luxury shops and hotels.
Avenida dos Aliados with Praça da Liberdade and Praça do General Humberto Delgado constitutes a continuous urban fabric, and is considered the main avenue and center of the city of Porto.
Avenida dos Aliados, initially Avenida das Nações Aliadas, was opened in 1916, on land north of Praça da Liberdade.
Avenida dos Aliados is characterized by a wide avenue surrounded by buildings of great architectural beauty in the neoclassical style, and at the top of this avenue is the City Hall, along the avenue a Statue of a Naked Girl (Fountain of Youth and is a sculpture by Henrique Moreira), the “Os Meninos” (A Abundance) Sculpture, the Monument to Almeida Garrett (the artist Salvador Barata Feyo), luxury shops and hotels.
