Lisbon 1755 Earthquake and Rebuilding with an Art Historian

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• Cais das Colunas (Pass by)

  We’ll begin at Cais das Colunas, exploring Lisbon’s enduring relationship with the Tagus and the river’s role in shaping the city. From here, we’ll look at Lisbon before 1755 and uncover the story of the earthquake and tsunami through historical sources, contemporary accounts and personal memoirs that bring the disaster to life.

  Admission ticket free
• Arco do Triunfo (Pass by)

  At the Arco da Rua Augusta, we’ll look across Praça do Comércio and explore how the former Terreiro do Paço—the “Square of the Palace”—was transformed into a grand civic space. We’ll consider how this shift from royal power to commercial power reflects the ideas behind Lisbon’s rebuilding and shaped the city’s new identity after the earthquake. If the queue is reasonable and the group is interested, we can also climb to the top of the Arco for spectacular views over the square, Downtown Lisbon and the Tagus.

  Admission ticket free
• Municipal Square (Pass by)

  At Praça do Município, we’ll discover a later layer of Lisbon’s history, including the 19th-century City Hall and the artistic patterns of traditional Portuguese calçada. This is also where the Portuguese Republic was proclaimed in 1910, giving us an opportunity to explore the end of the monarchy and the birth of the Republic. We’ll also visit the Museu do Dinheiro, specifically to see the archaeological remains of a 14th-century city wall and uncover the curious story of how a former church became part of the Bank of Portugal’s museum. Note: A visit to the Museu do Dinheiro is possible except on Mondays and Tuesdays.

  Admission ticket free
• Baixa de Lisboa (Pass by)

  As we explore the streets of Baixa, we’ll look more closely at the ideas behind Lisbon’s rebuilding. We’ll examine its remarkable urban design, standardised architecture and innovative construction techniques, including the hidden structural systems developed to make the new buildings more resistant to earthquakes. From the regular street grid to the structures within the buildings, we’ll uncover what made this reconstruction plan so groundbreaking.

  Admission ticket free
• Praca Dom Pedro IV (Pass by)

  At Praça da Figueira, we’ll discover how this lively square was once home to one of Lisbon’s main markets, and how an innovative medieval hospital once stood here before the earthquake. From there, we’ll continue to Rossio, one of Lisbon’s great meeting points since medieval times and a central stage for the city’s public life. We’ll admire the traditional Portuguese calçada and the square’s distinctive 19th-century design, including its French-influenced fountains. We’ll also step inside São Domingos Church to uncover the fascinating story behind its uniquely atmospheric interior.

  Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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