Praça do Comércio is one of the most famous squares in Lisbon, but it was never just a square.
For centuries, this area was the main entrance to Portugal. Kings arrived here by boat, trade passed through here and, after the 1755 earthquake, this was one of the places used to show that Lisbon was being rebuilt.
Before the square, there was a royal palace
Before 1755, this was where the Paço da Ribeira stood.
It was the royal palace of Lisbon, built in the 16th century by King Manuel I, right by the river so ships could arrive close to the court.
The palace was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
The square was rebuilt after the earthquake
After the destruction, the Marquis of Pombal redesigned downtown Lisbon.
The new square was planned as an open space facing the river, with arcades, government buildings and a more organised layout.
Many people still call it Terreiro do Paço
Lisbon people often still call it Terreiro do Paço, which means Palace Yard.
The official name, Praça do Comércio, came later because trade offices and customs services were installed there after the reconstruction.
The statue of King José I was inaugurated in 1775
The bronze statue in the centre of the square shows King José I on horseback.
It was one of the first large public statues in Portugal.
The Arco da Rua Augusta was finished much later
The arch was part of the original plan for the rebuilt Baixa, but it was only completed in the 19th century.
Today you can go up and see Baixa, the river and the castle from the top.
The Cais das Colunas was the noble entrance to Lisbon
The two columns by the river marked the ceremonial entrance to the city.
Important visitors arrived by boat and entered Lisbon through the square.
The Regicide happened here
On 1 February 1908, King Carlos I and Prince Luís Filipe were killed in this square.
This event became known as the Regicide and was one of the most important moments before the fall of the monarchy and the creation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910.
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