Évora - Praça do Giraldo

A couple of hundred yards to the northeast of the Igreja das Mercês, in the center of Évora, is the elongated Praça do Giraldo, the picturesque square that was once a place of execution where many victims of the Inquisition went to the stake. Its street cafés provide a good opportunity to appreciate the scenic effect of the beautiful houses and arcades surrounding the square.

The Renaissance fountain in Estremoz marble (by Afonso Avares, 1581) stands on the site of a Roman triumphal arch demolished in 1570. On the north side of the square is the collegiate church of Santo Antao, built in 1557 by the archbishop who later became King Henrique II; it has a clearly defined Renaissance façade.

The Rua 5 de Outubro, full of souvenir shops and the favorite precinct for promenading, soon brings the walk round the city back to its starting point.