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The Praça da Ribeira (Ribeira Square) was the centre of the commercial activity
of the city until the Praça Nova (New Square) replaced it in these duties, in
the beginning of the 19th century. That’s why it’s so important due to the
valorisation since medieval times. It was rebuilt after having suffered from a
fire in the 15th century. João de Almada e Melo, who was the Presidente da
Junta das Obras Públicas (President of the Public Works Department) at the
time, is the remarkable figure that is usually associated to the deep changes
occurred in the Praça da Ribeira. In fact, it was important not only to give
that space a monumental character, but also to establish a connection (which
implied the organization of the medieval urban area) between: the Praça da
Ribeira and the Rua de S. João; the latter and the Largo de S. Domingos, Rua
das Flores, and lastly the Rua do Almada. Such connections allowed the products
to flow and the swift transportation of the inhabitants.
Among the several figures that collaborated in the remodelling of the Praça da
Ribeira, one must mention John Whitehead, the British consul, who was a man
with a solid artistic education and an accurate aesthetic sense. He was the
author of some of the most interesting propositions for the Praça da Ribeira,
namely the construction of an arcade that would close the
western/southern/eastern sides, conveying the place a great sense of union. As
for the southern side, the wall itself would be its boundary, with a stair to
the upper part, which created a circulation area that dominated the river and
the interior of the square simultaneously. The construction works began in 1776
and were partly concluded in 1779. Next to the Rua da Fonte Taurina, the Junta
(Public Works Department) ordered the construction of two houses that stood in
harmony with the set, and that, having been finished in 1785, were sold by the
Senado (Senate) two years later (nowadays one finds in this area the
scenographic work of José Rodrigues).
This remodelling programme also included the Porta da Ribeira (Ribeira Door)
and the Capela de Nª. Srª. do Ó (Nª. Srª. do Ó Chapel) and in 1784 the
construction works were finished. One should mention that the chapel was open
and dominated the Praça (Square), as it stood above the Porta (Door). Both
would be demolished in 1821. Outside the Porta da Ribeira stood the Forca
(Gallows) and further away the Pelourinho (Pillory).
The programme idealised for the Praça da Ribeira was completely distorted: in
fact, the Porta da Ribeira and the Capela de Nª. Srª. do Ó were demolished and
changed, suffering subsequent enlargements, which consisted of the buildings
whose construction was ordered by the Junta. However, the spirit of that
remodelling and the monumental Fonte da Praça da Ribeira (Ribeira Square
Fountain) still remain. The latter was an architectonic structure, which was
built back to back with the wall of a river borderline house three storeys
tall. This construction of this fountain began before 1784 and it was concluded
in 1786 and one believes that the author of its blueprint was probably John
Whitehead. This fountain ended up by replacing a smaller fountain of the 17th
century that used to exist in the square. Nowadays, however, this smaller
fountain lies in its original place and, in the middle of it, stands the much
discussed statute of José Rodrigues commonly known as the “Cubo da Ribeira”
(Ribeira Cube).
As a continuation of the Praça itself and the spring, arcades were built in the
Muro da Ribeira. The inspiration for these was the Londoner model of the
Adelphy Galleries (disappeared in our time), which were connected to the
activity of the quays in the beginning of the 19th century. Due to their
unusualness, they are an unmatched nucleus in the architecture of Porto.
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