Valongo inaugurated the Praça da Democracia, a new public square in the town centre, on the evening of 6 August 2026. Located near schools, shops, services and restaurants, the square is presented by the municipality as a new urban centre and a link between generations. The project aims to change how the community relates to the town centre.
What the square is for
The municipality says the intervention opens space for staying and meeting, rather than creating a through route. Mayor Paulo Esteves Ferreira described it as a new centre for the municipality. He said the square reflects a way of planning public space around people’s everyday needs and close relationships. Noting that a growing share of communication happens through mobile phones and digital platforms, he stressed that face-to-face contact cannot be replaced. According to the mayor, the square was designed for children to play freely, young people to meet and older residents to socialise. The municipality wants it to be the community’s meeting point, where people can stop, talk, play or watch their children grow up.
Why the name
The name is described as a choice of identity and future. The municipality presents democracy not only as a political system but as a way of living in community, recognising differences and building meeting points. The mayor said democracy is not limited to voting and is built every day through participation, dialogue, freedom and respect.
Origins of the project
Former mayor José Manuel Ribeiro, who is linked to the origin of the project, attended the ceremony at the invitation of the current mayor. He said the project was the result of shared work. He placed the square within an ambition to create a new centre associated with the Casa da Democracia and with Valongo’s identity. He also pointed to the square’s reference to the area’s geological past, the trilobites, for which the municipality is known.
What happens next
The municipality expects the square to increase the flow of people in the centre, support shops and restaurants, and bring facilities, services and the community closer. It says the square’s meaning will be built through daily use. The space should now be lived in and cared for by the whole community.