Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio is a large riverside square in Santa Maria Maior, Lisbon, Portugal, spreading over more than 30,000 square meters (seven and a half acres). Yellow buildings with long arcades form three sides, while the southern side opens directly to the water, facing the Tagus estuary.

After the 1755 earthquake, Prime Minister Marquês de Pombal commissioned the square as part of the reconstruction of the lower city. The new layout replaced the destroyed Ribeira Palace and symbolized Lisbon's rebirth as a modern European capital.

Locals still call the square Terreiro do Paço, meaning Palace Square, a reminder of the royal residence that once stood here. Today people gather for concerts and festivals, while street performers appear under the arcades.

The square is always accessible as it has no gates or barriers, and offers enough space to avoid crowds even during events. The stairs at Arco da Rua Augusta provide access to the viewing platform, while the level ground across the square makes walking easy.

The statue of King José I at the center shows him trampling a nest of serpents, a symbol of defeating Portugal's enemies after reconstruction. Sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro worked for more than 20 years on this bronze monument, unveiled in 1775.