Praça da Liberdade

Every big city has a main square, and Porto makes no exception! You are standing on the Liberty Square, the most important one here. It connects the Old Town to the more recent part, making it a must-see when visiting the city. Once surrounded by orange trees and gardens, the Praça da Liberdade has always been a meeting point and place for protests. Built in the end of the 18th century, it is named after King Pedro IV, a symbol of Portuguese Liberalism. Just beside, you’ll find his 10m equestrian statue, inaugurated in 1866. If you look closer, you’ll notice that he’s holding a piece of paper in his right hand, none other than the Portuguese Constitutional Charter of 1826. A cornerstone in the nation’s history, this document established a constitutional monarchy that divided power between the king, Parliament, and law. This new constitution has similar ideas to the one King Pedro IV had written for Brazil a few years back. That’s because the king also goes by the name of Pedro I of Brazil, as he was the founder and ruler of the Brazilian Empire. Through this constitution, Brazil gained independence from Portugal, losing its status as a colony. Therefore, this document has an important place in the two countries’ history. King Pedro was also the one behind the Cry of Ipiranga, also known as “Independence of Death”, ending three centuries of Portuguese rule, an event celebrated today as Brazil’s Independence Day! So now you see more clearly who you’re dealing with, and the full scope of their personality. That’s it for today’s history lesson— now let’s head to our next destination!