Praça do Comércio

Welcome to the Praça do Comércio, the grandest and most iconic square in Lisbon, often still referred to by its old name, Terreiro do Paço—the Palace Yard. As we stand here, surrounded on three sides by majestic yellow buildings…

At the absolute center of this vast space stands the bronze equestrian statue of King José I, inaugurated in 1775 to celebrate the completion of the square's reconstruction. Sculpted by Joaquim Machado de Castro, it is the first…

To the northern edge of the square stands the monumental entrance to the Rua Augusta, the Arco da Rua Augusta. This triumphal arch was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction and was only completed in 1873, long after the…

The buildings that surround the square on three sides are a hallmark of the Pombaline style. These uniform, three-story structures with their yellow façades were designed to house government offices and ministries, emphasizing…

On the southern side, the square opens directly onto the Tagus River at the Cais das Colunas, or the Pier of the Columns. These two marble columns rising from the water mark the formal entrance to the city for those arriving by…

Before it was Commerce Square, this area was the site of the Paço da Ribeira, the royal palace built at the dawn of the 16th century by King Manuel I. It was a period when Portugal found itself at the 'center of an immense global…

Today, the Praça do Comércio is a 'darling of the European tourism scene,' a place where millions of people from across the globe converge. In the afternoon, the square comes alive with activity. …

As we conclude our walk through the Praça do Comércio, let us take one final look at the Tagus. This square is the ultimate symbol of Lisbon's resilience. …