Praça do Comércio, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake under the direction of Marquês de Pombal. He is one of the figures on the front of the Arco da Rua Augusta (Triumphal Arch), The equine statue features King José I, who was so scared by the earthquake that he lived in a tent for the rest of his life.
Cais das Colunas (Columns pier), with the two pillars erected in the riverfront of Praça do Comércio, works as a river gateway to Lisbon. The pillars were erected after the 1755 earthquake by the architect Eugénio dos Santos, and apparently represent the two pillars on the Solomon Temple (Wisdom and Devotion)...
...and here (even though I didn't know it at the time) I am being supported by Wisdom and Devotion.
My favorite plaza in Lisbon, Rossio.
Rossio, Cafe Suiça - according to our guide, Jews would gather here during WWII to exchange the latest news. How did Jews get to Portugal? Watch the movie "The Consul of Bordeaux" (2011).
This monument commemorates the victims of the 1506 massacre, during which hundreds of "New Christians" (that is, Jews forcibly converted by King Manuel I in 1998) were burned alive in this square. In the background is the church where the massacre started. It was later struck by lightning (literally) and you can still see the burn marks inside. The monument was erected 500 years later, in 2006.
Contemporary synagogue in Lisbon, Shaare Tikvah.
Inside the Shaare Tikvah synagogue.
Elevador de Santa Justa, designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, connects the downtown Baixa with the Bairro Alto neighborhood up in the hills.
Baixa is a flat downtown area, facing the river and surrounded by hills on both sides, Alfama on the right and Bairro Alto on the left. This funicular, like the Santa Justa elevator, connects Baixa with Bairro Alto. There are two other funiculars, one of them going up to Alfama.
Riding trams in Lisbon is transportation and adventure rolled into one...
...view from inside the tram - it feels like you can touch the houses going by, if only you stretch your arm.
View of Castelo de São Jorge from Miradouro da Graça, one of two top overlooks in Alfama.
Castelo de São Jorge, entrance into the inner fortress.
Castelo de São Jorge, coffee with peakocks.
Castelo de São Jorge, camera obscura on top of the Ulysses tower. From the inside, you can see all around Lisbon.
Torre de Belém.
Torre de Belém, there is a rhinoceros below one of the towers!
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, inner courtyard.
Famous Belem pastries (the bigger ones). The two smaller ones are generic Pastéis de Nata - and yes, the Belem ones are superior!
Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Belem, monument commemorating the Age of Discoveries and Henry the Navigator. In the background, Ponte 25 de Abril ("25th of April Bridge"), a Golden-Gate-style suspension bridge over the Tejo river.
Leaving Lisbon by way of Ponte 25 de Abril, going to Alentejo. On the left is a giant statue of Cristo Rei ("Christ the King"), built after WWII to express thanks for Portugal's neutrality during the war.
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