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A morning tour in Lisbon

This is our tour testimony in Baixa Rossio in the Center of the beautiful and charming Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

We have started at the Praça of Munícipio, where the magnificent Council Palace of Lisbon in neo classical style stands out as well as the spectacular monument of Pelourinho in octagonal base from XVIII century.

Camara Municipal Lisboa Facade from the Council Palace of Lisbon

Pelourinho LisboaPelourinho with an armillary sphere at top
Rua do arsenal lisboaRua do Arsenal towards Praça do Comércio

We have noticed Lisbon is a bit quite without the usual crowds but its charm is still there. It is a matter of time!

We move on up to Cais das Colunas. The Tagus river with two mysterious columns are still opening its doors to the world calling for their friends visitants. According to the followers of King Sebastião this was a symbol of the returning of the king, after his disappearance at Alcácer-Quibir battle at the final of XVI century.

Cais das Colunas LisboaArea at Cais das Colunas
Cais das Colunas VThe Cais das Colunas

Right next door, is the gorgeous Praça do Comércio. It is impossible do not notice at the symbols from the triumph arc. These, are connected with the idea of spiritual empire from freemasonry in Portugal as well as a reference of the reconstruction of Lisbon after the earthquake in 1735 headed by Marquês de Pombal. This arc was constructed in the year of 1873.

Our idea was to go up at the top by an elevator where the symbols and sculptures are placed, but it was closed due the pandemic.

Praça do Comercio Lisboa

Praça do Comércio. At the bottom the statue of D. José I

Praça do ComercioWest Tower of praça do Comércio
Arco triunfo praça comercio LisboaArc of Triumph with its symbology at top
Arco tirunfo Praça do ComercioOther view underneath of Arc of Triumph
Relogio Rua Augusta Lisboa

View of rua Augusta clock

Relogio Rua Augusta LisboaThe clock of rua Augusta

We walk along rua Augusta one of the more emblematic streets of Lisbon towards Rossio. For those who walk this street, the sight also through its crossing streets is tempt. Those tell us always a story, a passage place of meeting point of people, from opportunities of unique photos, from shopping, from ice cream and also a spectacular aerial view from the elevator of Santa Justa and much more.

Rua Augusta LisboaRua Augusta Rua de Sao Francisco LisboaOne of the cross streets of rua Augusta
Elevador de Santa Justa LisboaAt bottom the elevator of Santa Justa
Gelataria Amorino LisboaA break for an ice cream at rua Augusta

At the end of Augusta Street, is Praça do Rossio. It was there, with its lovely ornamental fountains with mythological figures. We went for a coffe at Café Nicola, the preference place of Bocage poet from XVIII Century and why not to take a picture of his memorial.

Praça do Rossio LisboaView of Praça do Rossio (I) Figuras mitologicas rossio LisboaOne of ornamental fountains of Praça do Rossio
Praça do Rossio LisboaView of Praça do Rossio (II)
Café Nicola Lisboa At Café Nicola
Estatua Bocage Cafe NicolaMemorial of Bocage poet inside Café Nicola
Teatro dona Maria IIMemorial of Bocage poet inside Café Nicola

We also have visited Praça da Figueira where we have noticed two joint hands at rua do Amparo. This is one of the typical symbols from freemasonry. The meaning of the two joint hands represents the union between rural trading situated at Praça da Figueira and the urban trading at Baixa.

Praça Figueira LisboaPraça da Figueira. At top the São Jorge castle
Mãos Juntas rua amparo praça Figueira maçonariaThe medallion of two joint hands

With temperature rising, we thought would be a brilliant idea, to drink a ginjinha at A Ginginha in Praça do Rossio. Without doubt it is a delicious.

Right at our front, we couldn´t miss the pink Palace of Independence. We wanted to know if we could visit it but it works only with advanced booking. However, we have noticed the beautiful and larges white chimneys.

A Ginjinha LisboaUs at A Ginjinha
Palacio da IndependenciaPalace of Independence
Palacio da Independencia LisboaFacade of the entrance of Palace
Chamine Palacio IndependenciaChimneys of Palace

Then we walked along rua das Portas de Santo Antão. It is also a reference of Baixa, with its restaurants and the auditorium Coliseu dos Recreios.

Rua da Santo Antão LisboaRua de Portas de Santo Antão Coliseu dos recreios LisboaFacade of Coliseu dos Recreios

We also took a picture at the mysterious Tunnel of Pátio do Tronco. It was in this place where the poet Luís de Camões was jailed after fighting with one of the aristocrats at time.

Tunel do Patio do Tronco Luís CamõesTunnel of Pátio do Tronco
Túnel do Tronco Luís de CamõesTiles of Luís de Camões face

There was time yet to admire the railway station in Manuelino architecture sytle built at 1890 and passing at Praça dos Restauradores symbol of Portugal liberation from the Filipinos Spanish dynasty of XVII Century.

Estação Rossio LisboaRailway station at Rossio
Praça dos Restauradores LisboaPraça dos Restauradores

The visiting in the morning at Baixa do Rossio in Lisbon is an inspired experince.

Theirs streets and alleys, history, culture, trading and everything in its surroundings are testimonies of its beauty. In that way, it helped us understanding better why Lisbon is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

References: Lisbon Secret from Vitor Manuel Adrião

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Rui Vasconcelos

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