Marquis of Pombal Square
Grand rotunda at the top of a long boulevard, its centerpiece a bronze statesman flanked by a lion.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Marquis of Pombal Square in Lisbon follows Sebastiao Jose de Carvalho e Melo, the statesman who governed Portugal for twenty-seven years without ever being crowned, serving under King Jose the First from 1750. It traces his sweeping reforms and the powerful enemies he gathered along the way, then turns to what happened the week the king died in 1777. Look up at the bronze figure and lion above you as you listen, gazing down the boulevard he reshaped.
This audio guide was created using AI.
Similar places
Rua Augusta Arch
Triumphal arch built to mark the city's rebirth after a catastrophic earthquake, with rooftop views.
Church of Memory
Neoclassical domed church built on the site of a royal assassination attempt, housing Pombal's tomb.
Restauradores Square
Public square marking Portugal's restoration of independence, with a tall commemorative obelisk.
Praça do Comércio
Waterfront square rebuilt on the ruins of a royal palace and scene of Portugal's last regicide.
Avenida da Liberdade
Grand tree-lined boulevard, ninety meters wide, Lisbon's ceremonial spine for over a century.
Praça Dom Pedro IV
Cobbled plaza with a royal column, once the stage for Inquisition autos-da-fé and popular revolts.