Restaurants, bars and museums in Lisbon · Page 212

Luís de Camões Square

Chiado · Squares, Streets & Bridges

Lying in the Chiado district of Lisbon, is the public square of Praça Luís de Camões. At 1200-243, Lisboa, the square links neighboring districts of Bairro Alto, Bica and Santa Catarina. Sources describe the square as the cultural and historical hinge of the city. The focus of the square is the monument to Luís de Camões, a 16th century Portuguese poet. Camões is credited with chronicling the Age of Discovery in his work, The Lusiads. It is said that the work of Camoes is as valued by the Portuguese as the works of William Shakespeare are valued by the English, and Camoes’ death is cause for national celebration in Portugal. June 10th is observed as Portugal’s National Day. Prior to the establishment of the square, the Marquis of Marialva's Palace, inhabited by the Counts of Castanhede, was located on the site. After the 1755 earthquake, the palace and many others, also met their destruction. The lower classes of society occupied the palace ruins. Remnants of the palace were uncovered in excavations done in 1999. This central square is a good starting point for exploring Lisbon on foot. Head uphill for Bairro Alto, and downhill for the river. People begin gathering at the monument around sunset. Afterwards many head to the Bairro Alta nightlife. The square is the 7th stop on the Architecture of Lisbon: A Historical Tour With Context tour offered by VoiceMap. The 75 minute, 3 km, self-guided tour covers 38 different sites of Lisbon. The pastel de nata bakery is to the right of the statue, and is the next stop on the tour.

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