Estátua do Marquês de Pombal, Bronze statue at Marques de Pombal Square, Avenidas Novas, Portugal.
The Estátua do Marquês de Pombal is a 40 meter tall bronze sculpture on a substantial pedestal, showing the statesman with one hand resting on a lion positioned at his side. The entire composition occupies the focal point of a major plaza surrounded by pedestrian walkways in Avenidas Novas.
The statue was inaugurated in 1934 to honor Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, who governed Portugal from 1750 to 1777 during the Enlightenment era. His direction of the city's reconstruction following the devastating 1755 earthquake left a lasting mark on Lisbon's development.
The pedestal displays portrait medallions of Pombal's closest advisors alongside allegorical figures representing his reforms in education, agriculture, and governance. These carved images tell the story of the areas where this statesman directed his influence.
The monument sits at a major transportation hub in central Lisbon where multiple metro lines and bus routes converge. Visitors can reach it easily on foot from many directions across the city.
Broken stones scattered at the base of the monument symbolize the destruction from the 1755 earthquake and point directly toward the Baixa district. These details remind visitors of the disaster that shaped Pombal's mission and legacy.
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