This recently restored square, with its beautiful cobbles and old colonial buildings
is only open to pedestrians, and is home to some interesting shops, restaurants, bars and tea houses. At one end is a museum of the history of sugar plantations and trade on Madeira. It is in the 15th century house of a rich sugar merchant Joao Esmeraldo, who was a friend of Christopher Columbus, hence the name of the square. Our hotel was nearby.