HISTORY OF MARQUÊS DO POMBAL SQUARE
“O LARGO DA ÁGUA ARDENTE”
Where is…
Marquês de Pombal Square is located at the confluence of the parishes of Santo Ildefonso, Bonfim and Paranhos, in the city of Porto. The square includes a romantic garden, two specific places for games and a gazebo. It is densely wooded and much sought after on hot days.
History of the Square
This square was part of a farm located on the northern edge of the old Porto urban area and was an important location for the city’s defense lines played an important role both during the French invasion and during the Siege of Porto in 1832.
The siege of the port took place between July 1832 and August 1833 as a result of the civil war in Portugal. D. Pedro’s Liberals were surrounded in the city of Porto by D. Miguel’s absolutist forces and thanks to their heroic resistance the liberal cause won its victory. Due to these events people began to flow in large numbers to this place, thus making it necessary to transform this space into a definitely public and open space.
Why the name “Largo da aguardente” (Spirit water Square)?
In 1837 the place was named “Largo de Aguardente”, since the Aguardente Market was held here.
The “Largo da Aguardente”, as it was a frontier location of the city, was also where taxes were levied on all goods entering the city.
In 1850 The “Largo do Aguardente” already had the current configuration. In 1870 a bullring was erected on the site, as well as on Avenida da Boavista. However, the people of Porto showed no great interest in this tradition, finding it inhuman and cruel. So both disappeared in five years due to the poor revenues and bankruptcy of the companies that ran them.
the present name of the square – Marquês do Pombal Square – was attributed to him in 1882, in honor of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal and Minister during the reign of D. José I. Marquês de Pombal was in the history of Portugal for several reasons, the main one being the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake.
Why the name change from “largo da Aguardente” para “Praça Marquês do Pombal”?
In 1898 the square was completely landscaped making it a large public garden and a place of worship for the influential people of the city. The Bandstand that still exists in this square, was built thanks to donations made by citizens, where began to give big balls, parties and camps.
In 1938, according to the drawing of the French architect Friar Paul Bellot, the construction of the Immaculate Conception Church began on the west side of the square.
After the construction of the Marquês Station on the Porto Metro Line “D”, the “Confidente Fountain” was placed in the square, a source removed from D. João I Square in the context of the urban requalification of Porto 2001 – European Capital of Culture. Among the inhabitants of the area stands out the architect Marques da Silva, whose studio is in the square, and today is part of the Architect Institute José Marques da Silva.