Cais das Colunas

This guide to Cais das Colunas in Lisbon traces the marble quay's three centuries as the city's ceremonial river gate, arriving at one particular afternoon: February first, nineteen-oh-eight, when King Carlos and Queen Amélie stepped ashore with their two sons and climbed into an open carriage bound for the square. It also reaches back to seventeen fifty-five, when the earthquake that flattened the old city left these twin columns standing at the water's edge. Look for the pair of stone pillars framing the steps before you listen.