Patterned Places

Camara Municipal, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

In the lively city centre, this historic building undeniably marks the urban landscape. It was built in 1758 to serve as the residence of the Count of Carvalhal. Subsequently, it passed through various owners and tenants, until it was acquired in 1883 by the City Council. It then became the City Hall of Funchal.

Although it has been modified and refurbished over the decades, it has always maintained its characteristics. It is therefore a harmonious example of late 18th-century architecture. These buildings most notably include the interior landscaped courtyard, covered with Battistini tiles, executed in 1940 in the Maria de Portugal Factory, and a fountain decorated with a marble statue of 'Leda and the Swan', signed by Germano José Salles. [source]

Portas da Cidade, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

One of the most iconic monuments of Ponta Delgada, the Portas da Cidade (City Gates) were built in the eighteenth century next to the old quay and then transferred to the Gonçalo Velho Cabral Square during construction of the seaside Prince Henry Avenue. Composed of three arches, featuring in the middle the royal and the city’s coat of arms. [source]

Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal

The rough translation of Rossio means “common land” and the future Rossio Square first became an important place in Lisbon during the 13th and 14th centuries. It was even the setting for public executions in the 16th century. The All-Saints Royal Hospital, completed in 1504, dominated the square until the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which destroyed most of the buildings in the area. An effort to rebuild the square began in the second half of the 18th century and gave the square its current form.

In the 19th century, the square was paved with cobblestones in wave patterns to resemble the oceans. This pattern has become uniquely identifiable with Rossio Square and can be seen in many other pavements all over Portugal and the rest of the world. In 1889, two large fountains that depict mythical figures were installed on the square. However, these identical fountains are not the most notable feature of Rossio Square. [source]

Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the government of France and since 1995 has been managed, under the direction of the French Ministry of Culture, by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. About 15,000,000 people visit the palace, park, or gardens of Versailles every year, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. [source]

Senado Square, Macau

The Senado Square, or Senate Square (Chinese: 議事亭前地; Cantonese Yale: Yíh Sih Tìhng Chìhn Deih; Portuguese: Largo do Senado), is a paved town square in Sé, Macau, China, and part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site. It is an elongated triangular shaped square and connects Largo do São Domingos at one end and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro on the other. It covers an area of 3,700 square meters. The square was named after the Leal Senado, a meeting place for the Chinese and Portuguese in the 16th to 18th centuries, located directly in front of the square, where Leal Senado Building stands today. In 1940, a small garden was built at the centre of the square, featuring a bronze statue of Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita standing above a stone pillar pulling out a sword. The statue was pulled down in the 12-3 incident as Mesquita was responsible for the deaths of many Qing Chinese soldiers. A fountain was built at its site and still stands today. [source]

Terazza Mascagni, Italy

Despite being relatively new for Italian standards, the Terrazza Mascagni is an iconic landmark in Livorno. Originally, the Forte dei Cavalleggeri occupied this space, but it was dismantled in the 19th century. In 1925, the area was transformed into a large square overlooking the sea by engineer Enrico Salvais. The architecture of the famous terrace, dedicated to the composer Pietro Mascagni, who was born here in 1863, is truly unique. The checkerboard flooring covers 8,700 square meters, with over 34,000 black and white tiles, and the balustrade is composed of 4,000 columns that separate the square from the sea. [source]