Commerce Square, Lisbon

If you are looking for a place to sit and watch the ships go by, Praça do Comercio is the perfect spot to visit. This public square, known as the Tereiro do Paço (Square of the Palace), overlooks the river Tagus just next to the Cais das Colunas. Besides taking in the view you can wander around the island and discover a bit of history. Orginally used as both a meeting space for statesmen and as a spot for burning heretics at the stake, today it lends itself to a more festive genre of events; assorted concerts and festivals are held here throughout the year. One main monument stands out in the square. The memorial, dedicated to D. Jose and realized by the sculptor Machado de Castro, is found in the center of a triangle in the middle of the square itself.