Campo de Ourique

Before urban development, much of this area consisted of estates and land connected to Campolide. Igreja de Santa Isabel, older roads and the military barracks created early reference points in an area that began to take urban form around 1878. In 1906, an urban plan associated with engineer Ressano Garcia was devised; the regular pattern of streets and blocks is still apparent on the ground. Some streets initially had numerical names before receiving their current ones. In the twentieth century, Mercado de Campo de Ourique, opened in 1934, became part of the local daily rhythm. On Rua Coelho da Rocha, the house where Fernando Pessoa lived from 1920 until a few days before his death now houses Casa Fernando Pessoa. The present civil parish of Campo de Ourique was created in 2012, bringing together Santa Isabel, established in 1741, and Santo Condestável, formed in 1959 from part of Santa Isabel’s territory.

Its official name is Jardim Teófilo Braga, yet it is widely known as Jardim da Parada. The familiar name preserves the memory of a space used in the early nineteenth century for drills and parades by the 16th Infantry Regiment. Today, trees, benches and footpaths have replaced the military ground; there is still movement, though the marching has changed. The statue of Maria da Fonte, by Costa Mota, has stood in the garden since 1920.

Jardim Teófilo Braga — Jardim da Parada · Mercado de Campo de Ourique · Casa Fernando Pessoa · Rua Coelho da Rocha · Rua Ferreira Borges · Rua Almeida e Sousa · Rua Pereira e Sousa · Rua Correia Teles · Igreja de Santa Isabel · Igreja do Santo Condestável · Biblioteca/Espaço Cultural Cinema Europa

Notice the regularity of the blocks and the views created by the straight streets. · Cross Jardim Teófilo Braga and look for the statue of Maria da Fonte. · Pass Casa Fernando Pessoa on Rua Coelho da Rocha and note what remains of the original building: the façade, the stairs to the first floor and two rooms from the former home. · Follow Rua Ferreira Borges towards Mercado de Campo de Ourique. · Compare the present names of Rua Pereira e Sousa, Rua Correia Teles, Rua Almeida e Sousa and Rua Coelho da Rocha with their former numerical designations. · Observe Igreja de Santa Isabel as one of the older anchors in the development of this area.