Dominating the Praça da Figueira (Square of the Fig Tree, though there are no fig trees here today), this statue represents King John I (1357-1433) by sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. The monument also carries medallions with the effigies of Nuno Álvares Pereira and João das Regras, two key characters in the 1385 Revolution that brought John I to power.
King John I, also referred to as John of Aviz, is recognized chiefly for his role in Portugal's victory in a succession war with Castile (what later became much of Spain), preserving his country's independence and establishing the Aviz dynasty on the Portuguese throne. His long reign of 48 years saw the beginning of Portugal's overseas expansion. If you look at Iberia and wonder why there's this carve-out of Portugal from Spain, that's to King John I's victory.
You might wonder why the statue is not in the center of the square and that's a great question. It was moved here so that it is at the head of the Rua da Prata and is visible 600 meters away in the Praça do Comércio (if you squint and there are no large vehicles on the road).
This large public square came to be following the 1755 earthquake when the the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos was greatly damaged and demolished around 1775. Around 1885, a large covered marked was built which existed until 1949 when it was demolished and this has been an open space every since.
[Review 16598 overall - 115 in Portugal - 108 of 2022.] read more