Praça do Colombo (Columbus Square), Funchal

Praça do Colombo (Columbus Square), Funchal

Situated in Funchal, Columbus Square is also referred to as Yellow Square because of the dominant yellow hue of the buildings around it. The square came into being part of a regeneration scheme that concluded in 1993.

The square was named in honor of the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus, who, as per historical accounts, lived in a mansion that stood on the same site during his visit to Madeira in 1498. The mansion was constructed in 1494 and belonged to João Esmeraldo, a farmer and trader, whose name has been given to the street on the eastern side of the square — Rua do Esmeraldo. The mansions in the vicinity were razed to the ground in 1876.

For a while, warehouses and stores occupied the square, but after a severe fire in the 1970s and the deterioration of the block's buildings, the Funchal City Council decided to redevelop the area in 1984, demolishing the structures and erecting the square. In 1989, archaeological excavations were initiated at the site during construction works, and some of the recovered artifacts are currently exhibited at the Municipal Sugar Museum (Núcleo Museológico da Cidade do Açúcar), north of the square.

In line with the renovation project, an underground car park was built in 1990, the Sugar Museum was finished in 1992, and the square was completed in 1993.

Presently, Columbus Square is a charming and well-liked spot in Funchal, featuring outdoor seating areas, eateries, and stores, and acting as a venue for public gatherings. With its historic cobblestone streets, the square is surrounded by some of the city's oldest colonial buildings, providing visitors with a distinctive shopping and dining experience.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Funchal. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Praça do Colombo (Columbus Square) on Map

Sight Name: Praça do Colombo (Columbus Square)
Sight Location: Funchal, Portugal (See walking tours in Funchal)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Funchal, Portugal

Create Your Own Walk in Funchal

Create Your Own Walk in Funchal

Creating your own self-guided walk in Funchal is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Monte Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles