Public Places

The Square of Saint Mary, or Praça de Santa Maria, can be found at the northern end of Rua Direita, the street to which all other streets in Óbidos link to. The location of the historically important Igreja de Santa Maria, the square is a popular place to soak up the sun, and certainly isn't short of atmosphere. Buzzing during the summer months and picturesquely tranquil at other times of year, it is enclosed by a series of attractive buildings, while the focal point at its centre is perhaps the pillory.

Since Óbidos remains a walled city, the Porta da Vila main gateway continues to be as important as ever. Leading onto Rua Direita, the town's high street, the gate actually takes the form of a small tower. Inside the fourteenth-century structure you'll find a Baroque upper balcony that was once used as an oratory (Oratório da Nossa Senhora da Piedade) and for public announcements.

As with other squares of the same name, Praça da República (Republic Square) continues the Portuguese tradition of  being one of the most important public spaces in Braga. Located on the western side of the city's historic centre, it comes alive each day from mid-morning to late into the evening. During this time, it is filled with locals who come to enjoy a bite to eat in the cafes and restaurants that line the square, including Café Vianna and Café Astória, which have both been serving customers for around 150 years.

Vilamoura, with its interesting archaeological ruins, was once an important Roman fishing centre. Today, tourists flock to the area thanks to the sandy beaches and year-round sunny weather. But Vilamoura also pulls in the yachting set and the marina here is the largest in Portugal.

Lagos's award-winning marina, built in 1994, lies in the Bay of Lagos close to the historic heart of the town. It makes a pleasant destination for a stroll along the palm-fringed waterfront which has a promenade with street vendors selling souvenirs on one side and a good choice of bars, eateries and shops on the other. 

There's lots going on here, even outside the peak holiday season. As well as browsing for souvenirs, it can be fun watching the boats coming in and out through the opening bridge and there are tour boats here offering trips along the spectacular coastline.

Cascais has a long-established seafaring tradition dating back to the Age of Discovery.  The modern marina was only built in 1999, with the more recent additions of shops, high-end bars and restaurants.  The marina in Cascais is the third largest in Portugal and has hosted a number of world-class sailing events including the America’s Cup World Series 2011 and the ISAF World Sailing Championship 2007.

Praca do Giraldo - Evora's main square, with its picturesque stone arches, is flanked by some fine examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.  This place is central to the city's life and this is where tourists can mingle with locals in the cafes and restaurants which line the square.  It is a great place for sitting and watching the world go by.

No visit to Lisbon would be complete without a stop-off at the majestic Praça do Comércio, one of Europe's largest squares, surrounded on three sides by classical 18^th century buildings and opening up on the south side to the Tagus River estuary. This plaza was once known as the "gateway to Lisbon", in recognition of the time when merchant ships arriving at the port would offload their cargo here.  This was also where passenger ships disembarked. 

If you’re looking for the heart of Lisbon, this centrally located square with its traditional Portuguese mosaic cobbles has been one of the city’s main plazas for centuries. Located in the downtown Baixa district it is officially known as Praça Dom Pedro IV, the locals prefer to use its old name, 'Rossio'.

Praça de Figueira is a large square in the centre of Lisbon, one of three in the Baixa district. The name translates as fig tree square, although there is little sign of the original trees. The square was created in the 18^th Century after the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 had destroyed the buildings that had stood on the site beforehand (as well as much of the rest of the city). It had previously been the location of Lisbon’s main hospital; the Real de Todos os Santos.