One of the best things to do in Praca do Quebedo Portugal is take a walk. There are lots of cafes and restaurants and you’ll find interesting shops too.
The plaza is a National Monument with an ornate 30m-high arch. It’s crested by statues of Glory, Genius and Valour.
1. Visit the Equestrian Statue of King Jose I
The Equestrian Statue of King Jose I is the most prominent landmark in the busy Praca do Comercio square. It was designed by the sculptor Machado de Castro and is a symbol of Portugal’s national identity.
The bronze statue depicts the king in a regal pose, directing his gaze downriver over the river Tejo. It is surrounded by four allegorical groups. One symbolizes the king’s capable response to the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.
Another allegorical group depicts the Portuguese wresting the country’s flag from the claws of an imperial eagle to return it to its own land. It is topped by the royal emblem, with a medallion bearing the portrait of Pombal. Its location at the center of the square ensures that the sculpture is always in public view.
2. Visit the Lisboa Story Centre
The innovative Lisboa Story Centre charts the city’s history through a series of themed areas using multimedia and sensory experiences. With a multilingual audio guide, the attraction takes about 60 minutes to complete.
From elaborate sets to immersive film re-enactments, the museum offers an entertaining look at Lisbon’s past. You can explore a replica of a 16th-century warehouse and discover products from the New World that were brought to Lisbon in caravela ships.
You can also learn about the 1755 earthquake (including a dramatic movie reenacting its horrors) and how the city was rebuilt in area number 4. Two stylized ravens greet visitors outside as they enter this interpretive historical showcase. After visiting the Story Centre, take a stroll along the riverside walkway that runs from Commerce Square to Cais do Sodre.
3. Visit the Cais das Colunas
In the heart of Praca do Comercio is Cais das Colunas, a small pier that has become a favorite spot for tourists to relax. Its sweeping views over the square and seafront promenade of Ribeira das Naus make it an excellent place to people-watch, especially when street musicians play.
At one time, the quay was used to welcome many prestigious figures who arrived in Lisbon by boat. This was particularly true of Queen Elizabeth II, who stepped out onto the quay in 1957.
There are a number of bars, restaurants, cafes and museums in the vicinity of Cais das Colunas. The Lisboa Story Centre is a must for first-time visitors, as it offers an interactive journey through the city’s history. You can also visit A Brasileira, which has been in business since 1905 and specialises in Brazilian coffee.
4. Visit the Rua Augusta Arch
The Rua Augusta Arch is an impressive monument and a must-visit attraction in Praca do Comercio. It is a stone, triumphal-arch-like structure that commemorates the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake.
It has six pillars that are about 11 meters (36 feet) high. Various statues built on top of the arch tell different stories. The most prominent ones are those of Viriatus, Sebastiao Jose de Carvalho e Melo, Nuno Alvares Pereira, and Vasco da Gama.
The allegorical group sculpted by the French artist Celestin Anatole Calmels at the top of the arch represents Glory rewarding Valor and Genius. You can also get a view of the Commerce Square and Rua Augusta from the top of the monument. You can buy tickets for the arch online and then show them on your mobile device to enter.
5. Visit the Museu da Cerveja
O Museu da Cerveja, na rua de Ribeira das Naus, reenacts a historic grocery store from the 1900s and lets you get behind the counter – in your imagination, at least. The upper floor also displays other artefacts collected by a French ethnologist from Corsica who worked in Portugal for 30 years, documenting popular oral traditions that would otherwise have been lost or forgotten.
A short stroll from here is the Cais das Colunas, a series of marble steps where foreign dignitaries once disembarked from their ships. And, at the end of the Avenida Ribeira das Naus is a delightful riverside walk to Cais do Sodre. There is no better place to relax on a sunny day in Lisbon. The Lisboa Story Centre is also worth a visit.
