Page 346 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

344  THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Panorama of the charming Bairro Alto district, located high on a hill
7 Praça do Comércio triumphal arch on the north Comércio was linked with the
@ 711, 714, 732, 759, 794 & many side, decorated with statues of busy central square of Rossio.
others. v 15, 18. q Terreiro do Paço. historical figures, leads into Rua The streets were flanked by
Augusta and the Baixa. Take the splendid Neoclassical buildings.
More commonly known as elevator to the top of the arch The Baixa (lower town) is still
Terreiro do Paço (Palace Square), for sweeping views of the city. the commercial hub of the city,
this was the site of the royal On February 1, 1908, King housing banks, offices, and
palace for 400 years. Manuel I Carlos and his son, Luís Felipe, stores. The streets are crowded
transferred the royal residence were assassinated in the square. by day, especially the central Rua
here, from the Castelo de São In 1974, it witnessed the first Augusta, but less so after dark.
Jorge, in 1511. The first palace, uprising of the Armed Forces By the Restauradores metro
along with its library and 70,000 Movement, which overthrew the station is the Palácio Foz, an
books, was destroyed in the 1755 Caetano regime in a bloodless 18th-century palace. Tourists are
earthquake. Its replacement was coup that became known as naturally drawn to Rossio, an
built around three sides of the the Carnation Revolution. elegant square and social focal
square. After the 1910 revolution, point with cafés and pastelarias.
it became government 8 Baixa The National Theater stands on
administrative offices. the north side. Just to the east
The south side looks across @ 711, 714, 732, 736, 759, 794 & of Rossio is the less attractive
the Tagus and was once the many others. v 15, 18. q Rossio, Praça da Figueira, the city’s
finest gateway to Lisbon – used Restauradores, Terreiro do Paço. main marketplace in Pombal’s
by royalty and ambassadors – time. Rua das Portas de Santo
with marble steps up from the Following the 1755 earthquake, Antão, north of the two
river. In the center of the square the Marquês de Pombal created squares, is a lively pedestrian
is an equestrian statue of José I an entirely new city center, one street full of restaurants.
(1775) by Machado de Castro, of Europe’s first examples of
leading Portuguese sculptor of town planning. Using a grid
the 18th century. The impressive layout of streets, the Praça do 9 Bairro Alto
@ 732, 758. v 28 (also Elevador
da Glória & Elevador da Santa Justa).
q Baixa-Chiado.
The hilltop Bairro Alto quarter,
dating from the 16th century, is
one of Lisbon’s most picturesque
districts. Its narrow, cobbled
streets house a traditional,
close-knit community, with
small workshops and family-run
tascas (cheap restaurants). This
predominantly residential area
has become fashionable at night
for its bars, nightclubs, and fado
houses (see p361). Very different
in character is the neighboring,
elegant, commercial district,
Rossio Square and the Neoclassical National Theater in the Baixa known as the Chiado, where
For hotels and restaurants see p362 and p363

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