Praça do Comércio

The Praça do Comércio (Portuguese pronunciation: ]; English: Commerce Square) is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço (]; English: Palace Square), because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace) until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. After the earthquake, the square was completely remodelled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown, ordered by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquess of Pombal, who was the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777, during the reign of Your Majesty Dom José I, King of Portugal.

History

Urban development of the banks of the Tagus river (the Ribeira) was given a definitive impulse in the early 16th century, when King Manuel I built a new royal residence – the Ribeira Palace – by the river, outside the city walls. The area was further developed with the building of a port, ship building facilities (the Ribeira das Naus), the Casa da India and other administrative buildings that regulated the commerce between Portugal and other parts of Europe and its colonies in Africa, Asia and America.

On 1 November 1755, during the reign of King Dom José I, a great earthquake followed by a tsunami and fire destroyed most of Lisbon, including the Ribeira Palace and other buildings by the river. José I's Prime Minister, the Marquis of Pombal, coordinated a massive rebuilding effort of Portuguese architect Eugénio dos Santos. He designed a large, rectangular square in the shape of an "U", open towards the Tagus. The buildings have galleries on their groundfloors, and the arms of the "U" end in two large towers, reminiscent of the monumental tower of the destroyed Ribeira Palace, still vivid in the architectonic memory of the city. His plan was realised almost completely, although decorative details were changed and the east tower of the square and the Augusta Street Arch were only finished in the 19th century.

The square was named Praça do Comércio, the Square of Commerce, to indicate its new function in the economy of Lisbon. The symmetrical buildings of the square were filled with government bureaus that regulated customs and port activities. The main piece of the ensemble was the equestrian statue of King José I, inaugurated in 1775 in the centre of the square. This bronze statue, the first monumental statue dedicated to a King in Lisbon, was designed by Joaquim Machado de Castro, Portugal's foremost sculptor of the time.

Opening towards the Augusta Street, which links the square with the other tradicional Lisbon square, the Rossio, the original project by Eugénio dos Santos planned a triumphal arch, only realised in 1875. This arch, usually called the Arco da Rua Augusta, was designed by Veríssimo da Costa. It has a clock and statues of the Glory, Ingenuity and Valour (by the French sculptor Camels) and those of Viriatus, Nuno Álvares Pereira, Vasco da Gama and, of course, the Marquis of Pombal.

On 1 February 1908, the square was the scene of the assassination of Carlos I, the penultimate King of Portugal. On their way back from the palace of Vila Viçosa to the royal palace in Lisbon, the carriage with Carlos I and his family passed through the Terreiro do Paço. While crossing the square, shots were fired from the crowd by at least two men: Alfredo Costa and Manuel Buiça. The king died immediately, his heir Luís Filipe was mortally wounded, and Prince Manuel was hit in the arm. The assassins were shot on the spot by members of the bodyguard and later recognized as members of the Republican Party – which two years later overthrew the Portuguese monarchy.

See also

  • Pombaline Downtown
  • Ribeira Palace
  • Casa da Índia
  • Rossio
  • Praça da Figueira

References

  • França, José-Augusto (1980) (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Arquitectura e Urbanismo. Biblioteca Breve. Instituto de Cultura e Língua Portuguesa (ICALP). 

External links

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R A
17 August 2014
A must-see for all Lisbon visitors. Take the tramway here to go to Belém. Take the lively Rua Augusta by passing through the Arc of Triumph. You can go up the arc for a wonderful view.
Jean-Xtophe Ordonneau
27 December 2014
In southeastern current of this square, there is a very nice museum about the history of the city. Very interesting, good sound system and a better understanding of the town through its past.
Gabi Bulumac
10 November 2014
Biggest open space in downtown Lisbon !! The square is surrounded with shops and bars ,definitely worth a visit.It has a cool Beer Museum and a tourist information facility.
Mircea Scarlatescu
12 September 2013
Beer museum, wine tasting, nice restaurants. The main square in Lisbin you can get the yellow trams from here, boats on the river and so on...
Stacy Bo Bacy
15 May 2019
On June 3, 1515, someone had the dumb idea to have an elephant and rhino fight in this plaza. The elephant immediately fled, trampling people on its way. I think of that story every time I’m here.
Catarina Matos
26 April 2017
Lovely view in every angle. This is a place full of History. Walk to Cais do Sodré and when you get there, grab a bite at Sol e Pesca.
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