Praça da Figueira

East of Rossio is Praça da Figueira, a gathering point for Lisboetas of all races and creeds. Here backpackers mix with shoeshine boys, lottery vendors and ornately decorated seed shops sit beside fish and grocery delis selling their wares. Part of the Baixa Pombalina, this square is famous for its terrace cafes, particularly Pastelaria Suiça, which also extends onto Rossio. Many of the colourful tiled four-storey buildings that surround the square are hotels, hostels, shops, and cafes, including the popular Confeitaria Nacional: once one of Europe's most elegant pastry shops and dating back to 1829.

The far corner of the square, which is a focal point for skaters and pigeons, proudly shows off a bronze equestrian statue of King João I, which replaced a large covered market that was demolished in 1949. Since then the square has been an open space. Today the square is often home to temporary exhibitions or book fairs and offers an interesting view of one of the slices that make up Lisbon.