During the Neolithic period, the Lisbon area was inhabited by Iberian tribes. They built several megalithic monuments the remnants of which are still found in the fields around the city. The history of Lisbon is tempestuous and full of bright and dark moments. Due to its location the city has suffered many losses. Lisbon also boasts some truly extraordinary attractions emerged over centuries. Below is a list of the most interesting historic places in downtown Lisbon.
1) Restauradores Square
Restauradores Square is a public square in the city of Lisbon. It is located at the southeast end of Avenida da Liberdade, near Rossio square. The square is dedicated to the restoration of the independence of Portugal in 1640, after 80 years of Spanish domination. The obelisk in the middle of the square, inaugurated in 1886, carries the names and dates of the battles fought during the Portuguese Restoration War, in 1640. The monument was designed by António Tomás da Fonseca, with statues symbolising "Independence" and "Victory" by sculptors Simões de Almeida and Alberto Nunes. The rectangular square is surrounded by 19th and early 20th century buildings. The most remarkable are the Palácio Foz, a palace built between the 18th and 19th centuries and boasting magnificently decorated interiors, and the old Éden Cinema (now a hotel), with a beautiful Art Deco façade dating from the 1930s, a work by architect Cassiano Branco.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
2) Figueira Square
Figueira Square is a large open space in the center of Lisbon which also serves as a major traffic hub. It is surrounded by quaint and historic cafes, hotels and shops.
Figueira Square means Fig Tree Square. It was once the location of the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos (All Saints Royal Hospital). The hospital existed at the site from the 15th century till 1755 when a devastating earthquake destroyed almost all the buildings in Lisbon. It was demolished and a large covered market was built at the location. The market was taken down in 1949 and the site remains an open square since.
Today, Figueira Square is surrounded by uniform four storied buildings. A bronze statue of King Joao I by sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida was erected at the center in 1971 and relocated to a corner of the square in the year 2000. The sculpture has medallions and effigies of the revolutionaries, Nuno Alvares Pariera and Joao Das Regras who helped King Joao I seize power in 1385. A historic café called the Pastelarica Suica and one of Europe’s most elegant pastry shops, the Confeitaria Nacional that has served customers delicious cakes from 1829 are located around Figueira Square.
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3) Carmo Convent
The Carmo Convent that was home to Carmelite nuns was ruined by the devastating earthquake that shook Lisbon in 1755. The ruined structure stands atop a hillock overlooking the busy Rosseo Square and faces the Lisbon Castle Hill.
A well known knight, Nuno Alvares Pareira, who was the Supreme Commander of the Army next to the King commissioned the building of the Carmo Convent in 1389. Carmelite nuns from Moura in southern Portugal were its first residents. At the time it was the largest convent in Lisbon. After the earthquake, the ruined Gothic structure was put to many uses. It became military barracks and later wood was stored in the building. During the Carnation Revolution, it was the place of refuge of Marcelo Caetano, the successor of the dictatorial president, Antonio de Oliviera Salazar, and those loyal to him. He was later deposed, ending over half a century of authoritarian rule in Portugal.
Today, Carmo Convent houses an archeological museum. Exhibits displayed include tombs, mosaics, statues and ceramics. There are Visigothic Pillars, the remains of a Roman Tomb, a jasper figure of the Virgin Mary, South American Mummies, Spanish Moorish Azulejos and Visigothic artifacts and coins that date back to the thirteenth century obtained from excavations by the Association of Portuguese Archeologists. 3) 1343 Praca Do Comercio
Regarded as the Gateway to Lisbon and Portugal, the Praca Do Comercio was once the main commercial hub of the city where the wealth from the colonies was brought to enrich the city and the country. It is a large U shaped square facing the Tagus River.
The Praca Do Comercio is popularly known as Terriero do Paco or Palace Square. This is because it is on the site of the former royal Ribeira Palace. The palace and surrounding buildings were completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The area was rebuilt as a square under the aegis of Marquis of Pombal. Architect, Euginio dos Santos designed the square in a U shape. The open end of the U shape faces the river and a large tower marks each end of the U. A large sculpture stands at the center of the square with the figures of Vasco da Gama and the marquis of Pombal among others. When Portugal was a flourishing colonial power, all government and port offices and commercial buildings were located around the square.
Today, the tourist office is located at the Placa Do Comercio. It is also the site of the oldest café in Lisbon, the Martinho da Arcada a well known meeting place of artists, writers and politicians.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
4) Chafariz do Carmo
The Chafariz do Carmo is one of the several public fountains built in the city throughout the 15th-18th centuries to solve the acute problem of water supply. One of the most remarkable fountains, it is located in Largo do Carmo, beside the convent of the same name. Built in 1769, it was designed by Field Marshal Don Miguel Angelo de Blasco. The fountain is enclosed within a porch supported by four majestic pillars and was built on an aqueduct that carried water to the city.
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5) Santa Justa Lift
The Santa Justa Lift is a lift in the city of Lisbon situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo. The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in 1907. The iron lift is decorated in neogothicstyle, with a different pattern on each storey. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that offers views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. There are two lift cages, each with a wooden interior and accommodation for a maximum of 20 passengers. The lift has become a tourist attraction in Lisbon as, among the urban lifts in Lisbon, Santa Justa is the only vertical one.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
6) Praca do Comercio
The Praça do Comércio is situated near the Tagus River. The square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço, because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace) until the building was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. After the earthquake, the square was completely remodeled as part of the rebuilding of downtown Pombaline by order of the Marquis of Pombal. The square was renamed Praça do Comércio, the Square of Commerce, to indicate its new role in the economy of Lisbon.
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7) Lisbon Cathedral
The Lisbon Cathedral also called the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Mary Major is the oldest church in the city and the seat of the Archbishop of Lisbon. The building has a mixture of architectural styles caused by several modifications to its structure through the ages.
The Lisbon Cathedral was first constructed in 1147. It was built on the site of a Moorish Mosque after the conquest of Lisbon by Christian forces under King Afonso Henriquez. The first structure was constructed in Romanesque style. The relics of St. Vincent of Sargossa, the patron saint of Lisbon were brought from Southern Portugal and placed in the Cathedral during this time. The building suffered extensive damage during the many devastating earthquakes that rocked Lisbon. The present cathedral was rebuilt in the 20th century giving the structure a predominantly medieval appearance. The façade has imposing towers like a fortress. This style is used in many Portuguese churches of the period of the Christian conquest when they were used as a military base from which attacks on enemies were launched.
Two noteworthy chapels within the church are the chapel of St. Ildefonso that has a carved sculpture of one of the first Portuguese Ambassadors, Lopo Fernandez Pacheco with a dog at his feet and the Chapel dedicated to San Antonio de Padua who was born in Lisbon. Archeological excavations in the courtyard have unearthed several objects from the Visigothic, Roman and Moorish periods.
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Sight description based on wikipedia
8) Castle of Saint George
The Castle of São Jorge is a Portuguese castle that occupies a commanding position overlooking the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and the broad Tagus River beyond. The strongly-fortified citadel, which, in its present configuration, dates from medieval times, is located atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city. The castle is one of the main historical and touristic sites of Lisbon. The castle's footprint is roughly square in shape, and it was originally encircled by a wall, to form a citadel. The castle complex consists of the castle proper (thecastelejo), some ancillary buildings (including the ruins of the royal palace), gardens, and a large terraced square from which impressive panoramas of Lisbon are afforded. The main entrance to the citadel is a 19th-century gate surmounted by the coat-of-arms of Portugal, the name of Queen Maria II, and the date, 1846.
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Sight description based on wikipedia