Downtown Lisbon: the heart of the city

Traditional and majestic, Baixa de Lisboa (also known as Baixa Pombalina) is a must-visit for anyone who wants to discover an area that is constantly evolving but has managed to maintain the charm of the past. Wander through its symmetrical and masterful streets made with rulers and squares, succumb to the charms of its imposing squares, always with the river on the horizon and a story around every corner. Built by order of the Marquis of Pombal, after the earthquake of 1755 (from which the name “Pombalina” comes from), the Baixa is framed by Terreiro do Paço and the squares of Rossio and Figueira and, longitudinally by Cais do Sodré and the Chiado, on one side, and the hill of Castelo de São Jorge, on the other. On flat terrain and in the heart of Lisbon, the place invites you to take a long walk through Rua Augusta, pedestrianized and paved with Portuguese pavement, which was once considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Wander between locals and tourists, shops, restaurants and esplanades, while admiring street artists or taking a tour of the various attractions that the area offers, such as the MUDE-Museum of Design and Fashion or the Roman Galleries. The journey inevitably takes us to Praça do Comércio (also called Terreiro do Paço), one of the largest and most beautiful squares in the world, where there is much to do and discover, whether in restaurants and esplanades (including the historic Martinho da Arcada), cultural spaces, such as the Lisbon Story Center, or the famous Cais das Colunas. Baixa is also synonymous with commerce, or was it not the oldest commercial area in the city, where in the past the various trades were grouped in the streets with the same name and which still make up the toponymy of the neighborhood: streets of Fanqueiros, Correeiros, Douradores or Shoemakers. Here, traditional and historic shops are mixed with souvenir spaces, but where the main international brands also have a strong presence.