São Miguel (St Michael) Square, in the heart of the Alfama neighbourhood, has a triangular configuration. On its northern side it is dominated by the church’s access stairs and the steps of escadinhas de São Miguel leading to the higher part of the Alfama. Eighteenth-century residential buildings stand on the other two sides, all of which channels one through a passage into the main street, São Pedro, with its hustle and bustle of daily market activity.
A century-old palm tree of an impressive size stands in the middle of the square.
Although the São Miguel Church would have merited a prominent position right at the beginning of Portuguese History, little is known of its construction in the medieval period or of its architecture until it was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. It seems, therefore, highly probable that, given the age of the surrounding buildings, this square also dates back to the same period. Furthermore, despite the earthquake, it is probable that the church and adjacent buildings were rebuilt according to the existing designs.
São Miguel Square stands as one of the central areas of the neighbourhood – a place for passing through from the high part to the low riverside part of the Alfama. As well as the large church building, with its eighteenth-century façade facing the square, its side adorned with tiles facing the steps, the unpleasant building on the eastern side deserves special attention with its wooden louver exterior windows. The remaining buildings, due to their architectural quality, interconnect coherently with the hustle and bustle of the external space. Ground floors occupied by hotel type establishments constantly imbue this place with life and people.
