Praça do Comércio, Lisbon

Praça do Comércio is Lisbon’s vast harbour-facing plaza, also known in Portuguese as Terreiro do Paço. Its open ground forms a square measuring 175 by 175 m, with a total area of 30,600 m2. The surrounding façades create a long arcade, and the plaza is bordered by 79 arches.

Look toward the water for the marble steps of the Cais das Colunas, built for royal arrivals from the river. This was once the site of the Ribeira Palace, the Portuguese monarch’s residence, until the earthquake of 1755 destroyed it along with much of Lisbon. The rebuilding transformed the area under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal, following plans by architect Eugénio dos Santos.

At the heart of the open space, the equestrian statue of King José was created by Joaquim Machado de Castro and inaugurated in 1775. The broad opening toward Rua Augusta is marked by a triumphal arch completed in 1873; its sculptural programme includes Glory, Ingenuity and Valor, along with figures from Portuguese history. The plaza also contains Martinho da Arcada, established in 1782 and recognised as Lisbon’s oldest café. Its political history is stark: on 1 February 1908, King Carlos I and his heir Luís Filipe were assassinated as they passed through the square.