Praça da Figueira

The Praça da Figueira [ pɾasɐ dɐ fiɡɐi̯ɾɐ ] (Eng. place of the fig tree ) is a large square in downtown Lisbon. The Praça da Figueira is one next to the Praça do Comércio and Rossio to the three main squares in the Pombaline, the newly built due to the earthquake of 1755 range.

Until the 16th century the square did not exist on the largest part of the area was the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos ( All Saints Royal Hospital), the largest of its kind in the Portuguese capital. After the devastating earthquake of 1755, the hospital was badly damaged, so that the Lisbon city government decided its demolition.

In the following years, a large open space, mainly the weekly markets was used. Approximately 1885 was built on the area of the square a large covered market hall with an extent of about 8000 m². The hall was until 1949, it was torn down, so the place known today came into being.

1971 praised the city government João I of Portugal with a bronze statue, designed by Leopoldo de Almeida. On the side of the statue two medallions are attached, both Nuno Álvares Pereira and João show the Regras, both helped João I to power, which in turn is generally regarded as a " Defender of the Fatherland ", as he in the Revolution of 1383, the pro- Castilian interim ruler Leonore Teles de Menezes rushed.

During the last renovation of the square in the years 1999/2000, the statue of the center of the square has been moved to the southwest corner, to make it visible from the Praça do Comércio. The place itself is very bulky, surrounded by several four -story buildings with many hotels, cafes and shops. The Praça da Figueira is also an important transportation hub between the tram ( ring line 12E and 15E line to Belém ), the Metro ( Rossio metro station ) and numerous bus lines.