Praça da República (The Central Square)

One of the most traditional squares of Belém, without a question, is Praça da República, located em pulsing cultural heart of teh city. In it, there is the Theatro da Paz and yet some other important spaces of the local culture, such as Teatro Experimental Waldemar Henrique, Instituto de Ciências de Arte (ICA) belonging to Universidade Federal do Pará and the Bar do Parque, place for traditional bohemian in Pará.
Its location is privileged ans it has na easy Access. During celebrations such as Sete de Setembro parede, Círio de Nazaré, and others, it becomes stage on which the public can see representations of famous people of history of Belém, accompanied by tourists from all over the world. It is one of the most visited places of Belém, especially on Sundays, where you see people of all ages.
The construction of the Praça da República began in the Eighteenth century, between the Campina district and the road that led to Nazaré district. Formerly, it was called Largo da Campina, but later, with the construction of a warehouse to house gunpowder, it was called Largo da Pólvora, where it was raised a gibbet, although there is no registers of execution. The area also served as cemetery, where the bodies of slaves and poor people were buried.
The first attempt of urbanization of the square was in 1801, with the administrador of Belém, Arthur Índio do Brasil, when the paths were paved on its avenues, cemented the ways, put fountains and benches and gardened the alleys. The pavement of the square is all in Portuguese rocks that lie under a tunnel of mango trees.
In 1889, the governor Justo Chermont idealized the construction of a monument in honor to the Republic, whose opening was on Novembrer 15th 1897. All made of Carrara marble, the monument has 20 meters high. The statue is that of a woman, representing the democratic regime, holding na olive branch, symbolizing peace. The Genius with wings, on the first stair of the work bending on a lion, lifts the standard of the republic yelling: “Freedom”.
Form the other stair on the other side, History is sitting on lots of books, registers on a piece of blank paper out of a big volume, the date of the republic proclamation. Two little genius lift the Shields of
“Probity” and “Union”. The four plaques in honor to Floriano Peixoto, José Bonifácio and Benjamin Constant were attached to the posterior monument.
On Sundays, the locals blend with the tourists who do not resist to visiting handicraft fair and taste the typical food which are sold at the Praça da República. The Handicraft Fair, which exists there for more than 20 years, has about 300 associated artisans Who trade jewelries, food, toys, clothing, etc. it is the biggest handicraft fair in the north and northeast of the country and also receives, in average, 50 thousand visitors each Sunday. It is really worth visiting it.


Alunas: Monique Tolosa e Elisandra Sarraf