Praça de Gonçalves Zarco
| Praça de Gonçalves Zarco | |
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 The equestrian statue of Johann VI. in the center of the square |
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| Basic data | |
| place | postage |
| District | Nevogilde |
The Praça de Gonçalves Zarco (also known as Rotunda do Castelo do Queijo ) is a square in the Nevogilde district of the Portuguese city of Porto . It forms the urban development end of the five kilometer long Avenida da Boavista , which runs as a main thoroughfare through the western districts of Porto. Since March 24, 1941, the square has borne the name of the navigator João Gonçalves Zarco , who is considered to have rediscovered Madeira .
The oldest building on the square is the Castelo do Queijo , which was built in the 17th century as a defensive structure. In 1966 an equestrian statue of John VI was erected in the center of the square . by the sculptor Salvador Barata Feyo . An identical statue can be found on Praça Quinze de Novembro in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). On June 15, 2009, Sea Life Porto opened on the northeast side of the square .
Esplanada do Rio de Janeiro leads from the square to the north , Avenida da Boavista to the east and Avenida de Montevideu to the southeast .
Coordinates: 41 ° 10 ′ 4.5 ″ N , 8 ° 41 ′ 19 ″ W.