The Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio) is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. Surrounded by saffron-yellow buildings with arcaded galleries that give it a remarkable harmony, the esplanade opens onto the Baixa and one of Lisbon’s most beautiful cobbled streets, Rua Augusta, via a triumphal arch, and onto the Tagus via a pier where spices and gold from the colonies were once landed. In the center stands the equestrian statue of Joseph I of Portugal, a bronze statue created by Joaquim Machado de Castro in 1755.
At the beginning of the 20th century, on February 1, 1908 to be exact, the Commerce Square was the scene of an attempt on the life of King D. Carlos I of Portugal and his family. The assassination dealt a fatal blow to the Portuguese monarchy. Today, various ministries occupy the Commerce Square. Still the subject of controversy, and has been for many years, the occupation of the arcades or even the outright removal of the ministries to house museums such as the Berardo Collection continues to divide opinion. In addition to the ministries, the arcades are also home to the famous Café Martinho da Arcada, Lisbon’s oldest café.
This visit to the Commerce Square was made on September 21, 2012.
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