Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio Review

Known also as the Terreiro do Paço, after the royal palace (the Paço) that once stood here, the Praça do Comércio is lined with 18th-century buildings. Down by the river, steps—once used by occupants of the royal barges that docked here—lead up from the water. On the north side, the Arco Triunfal (Triumphal Arch) was the last structure to be completed, in 1873. The equestrian statue in the center is of Dom José I, king at the time of the earthquake and subsequent rebuilding. In 1908, amid unrest that led to the declaration of a republic, King Carlos and his eldest son, Luís Filipe, were assassinated as they rode through the square in a carriage. On Sunday morning a market of old coins and banknotes takes place in the arcades. On the northwest corner the smart Lisbon Welcome Center (21/031-2700) has an information desk, craft shops, café, and deli. It's open daily from 9 to 8. The building also houses the Sala Ogival (21/342-0690. Tues.-Sat. 10am-8pm), a showroom for wine producers' association Vini Portugal, where you can taste Portuguese wines for free.