Baixa, Lisbon
The linear streets are bustling at almost any time of day. The Baixa neighbourhood was completely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755 and rebuilt in a checkerboard pattern. Many interesting tourist highlights can be found here:
Praça do Rossio
Alongside Praça da Figueira and Praça do Comércio, Rossio is one of the three most important squares in Lisbon's city centre. It has been the centre of the city since the Middle Ages. It has been the scene of numerous celebrations and revolutions and is now a favourite meeting place for Lisboners and tourists.
Elevator de Santa Justa
The lift, designed by a pupil of Gustav Eiffel, is a true masterpiece of the industrial age and transports its passengers up one of the steepest hills in Lisbon. The lift dates back to a time when wrought iron was considered an art form - recognisable by the Gothic arches and ornate details.
The passenger cabin is characterised by polished wood and elegant brass decorations. Behind the Elevador de Santa Justa lie the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, a silent memorial to the horrors of the 1755 earthquake.
Rua Augusta
Rua Augusta stretches for around 550 metres between two popular sights. Praça do Comércio is a large square directly on the banks of the Tagus. At the other end of the Rua is the Praça de D. Pedro IV, which the locals simply call Rossio.
You can take a relaxed stroll along Rua Augusta, as it was closed to motorised traffic in 1984 and converted into a pedestrian-only zone. As a result, it has been greatly upgraded and is now the central shopping street with many cafés and restaurants. The famous natas (puff pastry tarts with pastry cream) can also be found here.
Arco da Rua Augusta
The triumphal arch on the Rua Augusta was erected to commemorate the rebirth of the city after the earthquake of 1755.
The Latin inscription on the arch reads: ‘To the virtues of the greatest’: the strength, resilience and conquests of the Portuguese people.
At the top of the arch is the allegorical group of figures ‘The Glory Crowning Genius and Value’ by Célestin Anatole Calmels. Immediately below are the sculptures of the Marquis of Pombal, Vasco da Gama, Viriatus and Nuno Álvares Pereira (works by the Portuguese sculptor Vítor Bastos).
We took the lift to the top and admired the magnificent view.
Praça do Comércio
The Praça do Comércio is undoubtedly the most magnificent square in the Baixa. In earlier times, goods from the Portuguese colonies were transshipped here.
Igreja de São Domingos
It was once the largest church in Lisbon and the scene of the Portuguese Inquisition in the 18th century. A devastating fire in 1959 caused serious damage to the church. During the careful restoration, many of the traces of the fire were deliberately preserved.
