Praça da Ribeira, Porto Region

Praça da Ribeira - details and images

Praça da Ribeira is a historic city located in the São Nicolau parish, in one of the oldest and most typical areas of Porto, Portugal.

Considered one of the oldest squares in the city, the Square and Cais da Ribeira have already been mentioned in the royal letters of 1389. Medieval origin, when there was a major economic activity due to the presence of a port a few miles from the mouth of the Douro River, was an intense trade area with sales tents and plenty of fish.

The new fence, completed around 1370, prevented direct access to the river by the Porta da Ribeira, located in the southeastern corner of the market. In 1491, there was a great fire in the area, where a reconstruction process occurred, which opted for column houses and to stretch the floor of the square.

Placed at a focal point for commercial development, Praça da Ribeira always drew the attention of the authorities in charge of urban planning and management, so it could not go unnoticed by João de Almada e Melo in the 18th century, rewritten, looking for a look monumental of this space. There was also a concern to create a corridor to facilitate the flow of goods and movement of people, which was Praça da Ribeira, Rua de S. João, Largo de Sao Domingos, Rua das Flores and eventually Almada Street. British Consul John Whitehead was one of the figures who collaborated in remodeling the market, proposing the construction of an arcade that will close west and east the sides of the room a large unit. To the north, the market opened in the streets of St. John and Merchanti. As far as the southern part is concerned, a large access staircase would be built in the upper part of the Fernandina walls, creating a traffic area that would dominate both the river and the interior of the market. The remodeling program also includes Porta da Ribeira and Nossa Senhora do Ó Chapel (above him). The works were initiated in 1776, partially finished in the middle of 1780. The almadino plan was implemented only in the northern fronts - with the monumental St John's Fountain - and to the west. To the south, the wall was eventually overturned in 1821, and in the spring, medieval buildings survive to the present.

In the 1980s archaeological interventions were carried out, exposing a 17th century fountain in the center of the market. Reconstructed at its place of origin, the fountain was crowned by a sculptural piece by the author of Jose Rodrigues, commonly known as "Cubo da Ribeira". June 24, 2000 was inaugurated in the niche of the fountain Ribeira Square, a statue of St. John the Baptist, by the sculptor João Cutileiro.

Nowadays, Ribeira Square is a place to visit for anyone passing through the city, with many restaurants and entertainment venues.

Information source