Lisbon & Around - Portugal - page 134

64 Napoleão F6

65 Outra Face da Lua E4

66 Papabubble E6

67 Santos Oficios F5

68 Silva & Feijó G6

Praça do Comércio
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(Terreiro do Paço; ) 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 ar-
riving by boat used to disembark here, and it still feels like the gateway to Lisbon, throng-
ing with activity and rattling trams. At its centre rises the dashing equestrian statue of Dom
José I OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , hinting at the square's royal roots as the pre-earthquake site
of Palácio da Ribeira.
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 OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , crowned with bigwigs such as 15th-century ex-
plorer Vasco da Gama; come at dusk to see the arch glow gold. Ongoing renovations have
opened pedestrian access to the Tejo once again (though watch the traffic crossing the
street).

PLAZA

Lisbon Story Centre
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( www.lisboacentre.pt ; Praça do Comércio 78; adult/child €7/3; 10am-7pm) This newly opened museum
takes visitors on a 60-minute journey through Lisbon's history, from its early foundation
(pre-Ancient Roman days) to modern times. An audioguide and multimedia exhibits de-
scribe key episodes, including New World discoveries, the terrifying 1755 earthquake
(with a vivid film re-enacting the horrors) and the ambitious reconstruction that followed.
The final room shows the events that have taken place in the Praça do Comércio over
the years, from early arrivals at the waterfront gates to the city, to the 1974 revolution and
its less illustrious days as a parking lot in the 1980s.

MUSEUM

MUSEUM

Museu de Design e da Moda