Taipas Street I. Pinto Leite Family’s House

The evolution of the Olival hill shows that it is essential to consider any pre-existence – natural or a result of anthropic activity –, in order to understand urban spaces. The orographic characteristics of the place shaped the steep slope of streets, such as the Taipas and Dr. Barbosa de Castro ones, whose orientation and scale were determined by both pre-existing New Jewish Quarter and Gothic wall. The relevance attained by the area from the Philippine Era onwards, attracted noble families. Their presence is identified by noble houses with coats of arms that mark the urban landscape, but mainly by the development of recreational spaces with green areas, such as those emerged in Cordoaria, that later on culminated with the Virtudes Promenade.