Arco da Rua Augusta

Rua Augusta,
Lisboa

Opening hours:
All visits requires prior arrangement

Tel: (351) 213614200
Fax: (351) 213637047
E-mail: ippar@ippar.pt


Placed on the monumental square of Praça do Comércio, the Rua Augusta Triumphal Arch (Arco da Rua Augusta) is the highly regarded building in Lisbon. It was built in 1875 on the basis of a project of French sculptor Antoine Calmels. The idea of build this impressive building arose during the reconstruction of Lisbon after the earthquake in 1755. In 1910 the Triumphal Arch was classified as a National Monument.

The most characteristic in the Rua Augusta Triumphal Arch is the clock and nine natural-size statues. Three of them, presenting the Glory, Ingenuity and Valour, are placed on the top of the Arch. The other six are located in the corners of the building: in one of them are statues of Viriato - the national Portuguese hero, and Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India. In the second one are Nuno Álvares Pereira - a famous man, who helped to gain independence to Portugal from Spain, and Marques de Pombal - the politician who contributed to reconstruction of Lisbon. The third and fourth corners represent the rivers: Douro and Tagus.