iberty Square, or Praça da Liberdade in Portuguese, is undoubtedly the beating heart of Porto
Liberty Square, or Praça da Liberdade in Portuguese, is undoubtedly the beating heart of Porto. It is the first place where travelers should go to start sightseeing the city, as some of Porto's most emblematic monuments are located here.
But it's not just tourists who head to this square. Praça da Liberdade is the traditional meeting point of the Portoenses, a place where the political, economic, and social power of the whole city of Porto is concentrated: here are the main banks of the country and the Town Hall, that is, and it is in this square where all the demonstrations or celebrations of the city always start.
If you want to know all the details about this square, read on, and we will tell you all about it!
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Liberty Square: its location
As was mentioned, Liberty Square is one of the most important places to see in Porto. It is located in the historic center, next to the Avenida dos Aliados, and delimits two of the main areas of the city: the most monumental and contemporary part, from the eighteenth century, known as the Baixa of Porto, and the old town area, where the Cathedral and the famous Ribeira are located.
It is the perfect place to start visiting the city and one of the best areas to stay in Porto, since you are very close to all the main attractions. There are many hotels and guesthouses where you can stay, and the spot is very well-connected with all means of transport.
Getting to Praça da Liberdade is very easy. If you travel by train, the São Bento station is right next to the square. If you arrive in Porto by plane, you can take the metro from the airport and get off at Trindade, which is just behind the square. And if you like to move around by car, next to Avenida dos Aliados there is an underground parking (Parque Estacionamento Saba), where you can park your car and start discovering Porto.
Liberty Square: its history
We can consider Liberty Square as the gateway to the city, but it was not always like that. Since the Middle Ages until the 18th century, Porto was delimited by the Fernandine Walls. Walls, which passed through the area, where these days is located the Intercontinental Hotel, at the bottom of the square. The square was simply a cultivated field. With the increase of the population and the economic growth of Porto, it was necessary to demolish the walls and expand the city. It is from that moment that the construction of the square and all the main buildings in this area began.
Did you know that the square did not always have this name? Formerly, the square was called D. Pedro IV Square, in honor of the famous and loved king who fought against his brother during the Portuguese civil war. If you want to know all the history of D. Pedro IV and all the details of the history of this square, book now our Free Tour, and we will tell you everything.
