Praça Gil Eanes (Gil Eanes Square), Lagos

Gil Eanes Square is one of the central public spaces in Lagos’ historic centre. Although it bears the name of Gil Eanes, the 15th-century explorer who famously sailed past Cape Bojador in 1434 in service to Prince Henry the Navigator-who himself never went to sea-the statue of this maritime pioneer is not located here. Instead, the Gil Eanes statue stands in a quieter setting in the nearby Garden of the Constitution.

The square’s focal point is something quite different. At its centre rises the controversial statue of King Dom Sebastião. The monarch who elevated Lagos to city status in the 16th century, is rendered in a rather modernist form. The sculpture has long sparked debate for its abstract style, ambiguous features, and unconventional appearance. For starters, nobody really knows what he is wearing. Moreover, the statue's gender is also unclear.

Historically, this area of Lagos lay close to key civic and religious institutions, including the Church of Santa Maria, the town’s principal parish church. Over time, Gil Eanes Square developed as a civic space linking medieval streets with later urban growth. On the square's northeastern side stands the Old City Hall, dating from the early 19th century. The building has three floors, with halls that have long been used for exhibitions and public functions. Although a new City Hall was inaugurated in 2019, the historic building continues to serve as the seat of the Lagos Municipal Assembly.