Images of Portugal: Praça Marquês de Pombal, Vila Real de Santo Antonio
The Praça Marquês de Pombal in Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Algarve was formerly known as Praça Real. It is the main square in the town and close to the River Guadiana.
The square is now named after the Marquês de Pombal who rebuilt the town after the 1755 earthquake. The square contains the Câmara Municipal (Town Hall) and the box-like Parish Church with a Rococo-style altar within. The obelisk dates from 1776 and commemorates King José I (1714-1777), who was monarch at the time of Pombal's reforms.
The square is a gathering place especially at night during the summer when table football, other children's games and a carousel are all in evidence.
