At the Arco da Rua Augusta, we’ll look across Praça do Comércio and explore how the old Terreiro do Paço—the “Square of the Palace”—was transformed into this grand new civic space. We’ll discuss how this symbolic shift from the power of the monarchy to the power of commerce reflects the ideas behind the rebuilding of Lisbon and helps us understand the city’s new identity after the earthquake.

If the queue is not too long and the group would like to, we can also climb to the top of the Arco for a spectacular view over the square, the Downtown, and the Tagus.

At Praça do Município, we’ll discover a later layer of Lisbon’s history, including the 19th-century City Hall and the artistic patterns of the traditional Portuguese calçada. This is also where the Portuguese Republic was proclaimed in 1910, giving us an opportunity to explore the end of the monarchy and the birth of the Republic.

We’ll also visit the Museu do Dinheiro, specifically to see the archaeological remains of a 14th-century city wall and uncover the curious story of how a former church became part of the Bank of Portugal’s museum.

At Praça da Figueira, we’ll discover how this lively square was once home to one of Lisbon’s main markets, and how, before the earthquake, an innovative medieval hospital stood here. From there, we’ll continue to Rossio, one of Lisbon’s great meeting points since the medieval period and a central stage for the city’s public life.

We’ll admire the traditional Portuguese calçada and the 19th-century design of the square, including its distinctive fountains with their French influence. We’ll also step inside São Domingos Church to uncover the fascinating story behind its uniquely atmospheric interior.