Скачать или смотреть Praça do Comércio in Lisbon (Lisboa) in Portugal (Terreiro do Paço)

The Praça do Comércio (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 (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 Marquis of Pombal, who was the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777, during the reign of Dom José I, King of Portugal.

With its grand 18th-century arcades, lemon-meringue facades and mosaic cobbles, the riverfront Praça do Comércio is a square to out-pomp them all. Everyone arriving by boat used to disembark here, and it still feels like the gateway to Lisbon, thronging with activity and rattling trams.

At its centre rises the dashing equestrian statue of Dom José I , hinting at the square’s royal roots as the pre-earthquake site of Palácio da Ribeira. Another impressive monument is the Arco da Rua Augusta, a triumphal arch that leads to the Rua Augusta, a beautifully paved pedestrianized street. The arch was originally designed by Santos de Carvalho to celebrate the swift reconstruction of the city after the earthquake of 1755. Construction of the triumphal monument started in 1759 but work was halted soon after. The project was picked up again in 1843 when a new design by architect Veríssimo José da Costa was chosen. Finally completed in 1873, the monumental arch shows the allegorical figure of Glory crowning Genius and Bravery. Below them are important historical figures and allegorical representations of the rivers Tagus and Douro.

In 1908 the square witnessed the fall of the monarchy, when anarchists assassinated Dom Carlos I and his son. The biggest crowd-puller is Verissimo da Costa’s triumphal Arco da Victória , crowned with bigwigs such as 15th-century explorer Vasco da Gama; come at dusk to see the arch glow gold. Ongoing renovations have opened once again pedestrian access to the Tejo (though watch the traffic crossing the street).

Praça do Comércio in Lisbon (Lisboa) in Portugal (Terreiro do Paço)
HD HQ Shot in 2014 with an Apple iPhone 5