Right by the Tagus, this was not “just a square”. For centuries, it was the front door of Portugal. Kings arrived here by boat, spices and gold from the empire passed here, and after the 1755 earthquake, this was the place chosen to show Lisbon was alive again.
Here are 7 curiosities with a bit more history
Before the square, there was a royal palace
Until 1755, this was where the Paço da Ribeira stood, the royal palace of Lisbon, built in the 16th century by King Manuel I, right by the river so ships could arrive directly at the court. The palace was destroyed in the earthquake.
Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake to show power
After the destruction, the Marquis of Pombal redesigned the whole downtown (Baixa). The new square was planned as an open space to the river, with arcades, government buildings and perfect geometry, a modern city for the 18th century.
Terreiro do Paço vs. Praça do Comércio
Lisbon people still call it Terreiro do Paço (Palace Yard) because of the old royal palace. The official name “Praça do Comércio” comes from all the trade offices and customs that were installed there after the reconstruction.
King José I on horseback (1775)
The bronze statue in the centre was inaugurated in 1775 and was the first big public statue in Portugal. The king is riding over snakes, they represent the chaos of the earthquake and Portugal “dominating” it.
Arco da Rua Augusta (later than the rest)
The arch was part of the original plan but it was only finished in the 19th century. Today you can go up and see Baixa, the river and the castle from the top.
Cais das Colunas: the river entrance to Lisbon
The two columns at the water were the noble entrance to the city. Important people and foreign visitors arrived there by boat and walked straight into the square.
A place where history happened
On 1 February 1908, King Carlos I and Prince Luís Filipe were killed here, the Regicide, one of the most dramatic moments in Portuguese history, which later led to the Republic in 1910.
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