It is difficult to pass by one of the oldest squares in Portugal and the central square of Lisbon. Firstly, it is located in the very center of the capital. Secondly, no sightseeing tour is complete without it. Thirdly, it is the dating place chosen by romantic Portuguese (for your information, ladies).

The history of the legendary Rossio Square goes back to the ancient Romans, who built here a huge hippodrome to hold spectacular equestrian competitions. Today, the distant past is called to mind by the unusual horseshoe shape of the square. After the majestic Estaus Palace, famous for its chilling history of the Portuguese Inquisition, had been erected here in the middle of the 15th century, the square became a bloody place of execution of heretics. The terrible image of the ancient square was softened only by the building of the All Saints Royal Hospital. It had adorned the eastern half of the square until the strongest earthquake in the middle of the 18th century, which damaged most of the city's buildings except for the Estaus Palace. Later, the palace was rebuilt into the Queen Maria II National Theater.

It is difficult to imagine that the former terrible place of the witch hunters' massacre has become the most romantic place and the building known for scandalous events has appeared to be an exquisite holiday destination worthy of crowned heads. However, this is exactly what the modern Rossio Square looks like with its monument to King Pedro IV of Portugal in the center. A column with a statue of the king, decorated with allegories of Strength, Justice, Wisdom, and Moderation, was installed in Rossio Square in 1874. At the same time, the square was renamed "King Pedro IV Square". However, the new name never took on in the city. Locals still call it Rossio, and tourists admire its beauty and grandeur, sometimes without even knowing its name.

Watch fabulously beautiful sunrises or pink sunsets in the legendary Lisbon square, arrange romantic dates at the monument to the king of Portugal or enjoy the view of the wonderful fountain from the window of the art cafe "Nicola", which was frequented by the famous Portuguese poet Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage. It's hard to imagine something more delightful and attractive for the residents of noisy megacities and their long-awaited vacation.