Admire the Tagus and Baixa from the majestic Rua Augusta Arch
The belvedere located at the top of the arch provides an incredible view on the entire Praça do Comércio and Baixa Pombalina.
Arco Da Rua Augusta - is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Praça do Comércio, at Rua Augusta, located in Baixa Pombalina de Lisboa. The construction of the arch was scheduled in 1759, under the Pombaline reconstruction after the destruction of the downtown area, due to the earthquake of 1755. It was designed as a gateway to the city, but the version of the arch, that exists today was completed a century later, in 1975.
In neoclassical style, this majestic triumphal arch acts as a gateway to the sea and to the city. At the top of the arch are the sculptures of Célestin Anatole Calmels, that represent Glory, crowning the Genie and the Value. And at the bottom are the sculptures of Vítor Bastos, representing Nuno Alvares Pereira, Viriato, Vasco da Gama and the Marquis of Pombal. On the left side is the river Tagus and on the right the river Douro, which borders the region where the Lusitanians allegedly lived.
The Latin inscription that is at the top of the triumphal arch refers to the grandeur of the Portuguese Empire and the Portuguese expansion to meet unknown civilizations. On the side facing Rua Augusta is a monumental clock with naturalistic motifs. The entire monument was restored in the year 2013, when an elevator was also placed in the interior to allow visits to the belvedere located at the top of the arch, which allows magnificent views on the entire Praça do Comércio and Baixa Pombalina.
