Commerce Square 照片檔

The Praça do Comércio, formerly Terreiro do Paço, is a square in Baixa de Lisboa, located by the river Tagus, in the area that was the site of the palace of the kings of Portugal for about two centuries and which today is partially occupied by some government departments . It is one of the largest squares in Europe, with about 36,000 m² (180m x 200m).It is considered a historical symbol of the political power and manifestation of the capital in Portugal. This symbology is generally associated with state centralism.In 1511, King D. Manuel I transferred his residence from the Castle of St. George to this place by the river. The Paço da Ribeira, as well as its library of 70,000 volumes, were destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. In the reconstruction, coordinated by Eugénio dos Santos, the square became the fundamental element of the plan of the Marquis of Pombal.