In the middle of the square, there is a statue of the king D. José I, who ruled Portugal at the time of the earthquake (although no one was as powerful as his "prime minister", the Marquês de Pombal, who rebuilt the city and ruled with an iron hand). The square has always seemed to me more munumental than the Brussels Grand Platz, although it seems very neglected compared to the belgium one. It has a stunning view to the river also.