Commerce Square
The Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio) is the most important square in Lisbon. It was built where the royal palace was located before being destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755.
The structure of the Commerce Square is composed of a set of buildings porticoed in three of its sides and is open in the south side, looking at the Tagus. Historically, the merchant ships arrived here and this was the door of Lisbon.
Near the square, on the river bank, is the Cais de Sodré river station, from where the excursions go through the Tagus and the boats that cross the river.
In the sCommerce Square there are two points of special interest:
Triumphal Arch of Augusta Street
Located on the north side of the Commerce Square, the Rua da Augusta Arch begins Rua Augusta, the most important street in La Baixa.
The Triumphal Arch of Rua Augusta was designed by the architect Santos de Carvalho to celebrate the reconstruction of the city after the great earthquake. Its construction ended in 1873 and its statues represent, among others, Vasco de Gama and the Marquis of Pombal.
Equestrian statue of Joseph I
Sculpted in bronze by Machado de Castro in 1775, it represents José I, Portuguese king who was in charge during the Lisbon earthquake.
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