Arco da Rua Augusta (Augusta Street Arch), Lisbon

The Augusta Street Arch, located in Lisbon’s Commerce Plaza, is a historical landmark symbolizing the city’s reconstruction after the devastating 1755 earthquake. Originally envisioned as a bell tower, its design evolved into a grand triumphal arch over more than a century. The structure boasts six 11-meter-tall columns and a rich display of Portuguese historical and cultural motifs.

Atop the arch, a sculptural group symbolizes Glory bestowing laurel leaves upon Valor and Genius, alongside a bell that can be rung. The centerpiece, Glory, stands 7 meters tall, dressed in classical peplos, holding two crowns. Valor is personified by an Amazon figure with dragon-emblazoned armor, representing the Portuguese Royal House of Braganza. Genius, accompanied by a statue of Jupiter and symbols of writing and art, completes the trio. The arch’s height necessitated colossal proportions for these statues, enhancing their visual impact.

Four additional statues stand over the columns, honoring key figures in Portuguese history: the 14th-century general Nuno Álvares Pereira, 18th-century statesman Marquis of Pombal, Medieval Portuguese navigator and explorer Vasco da Gama, and Viriatus, a Lusitanian leader who fought against the Romans in the 2nd century BC. Reclining figures below symbolize the rivers Tagus and Douro, while inscriptions celebrate the Portuguese Empire's grandeur and achievements, including the phrase “To the Virtues of the Greatest, so that it may serve as a lesson to all. Dedicated at public expense.”

Since 2013, visitors can ascend the arch to enjoy panoramic views of Lisbon. A lift takes visitors most of the way, with additional steep stairs and stop-and-go traffic lights managing congestion. Informative displays on landings detail the arch’s history and the development of the area, including the story of an old clock.

Tip:
If you have the Lisbon Card, admission is free, and credit cards are accepted.
It's advisable to go early to avoid both the scorching heat and the crowds.