Symbolism of Pombal’s Downtown Cultural Walk

After the devastating earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon, king D. José I and his minister Marquês de Pombal took immediate measures for the town to be reborn again. They hired a considerable number of architects and engineers who in less than one year performed the “miracle” of transforming Lisbon into a new town free from ruins.
The new center, nowawadays known as Baixa Pombalina, is one of the town’s noble areas. They are the first buildings in the world to be built with anti-earthquake protection that was tested in wood models by troops marching around them, as a way of testing their earthquake resistance - the famous Pombal’s cage.
However, this grandiose work “concealed” something else. Today, the town of Lisbon is marked by a symbolic system related to Esotericism, Masonry, Alchemy, Mythology etc. Lisbon is populated by statues and obelisks, by high-reliefs, bas-reliefs and by tiles that tell us marvellous stories, that talk of unimaginable mysteries and that, in one way or another, suggest to us the myth and dream of Lisbon of the 5th Empire.

IMPORTANT:
- Minimum of 4 adults,
- Groups of less than 4 adults are accepted but price is the same as for 4 adults.

ITENERARY:
- Meeting at Triunfal Arc at Rua Augusta
- Visit to the symbolism of Praça do Comércio, Travel in the Elevated Triunfal Arc at Rua Augusta with an amazing view over Pombal's Downtown and Lisbon. Rua Augusta - Rossio - visit to the most symbolic aspects of Pombal's Downtown
- Snack at Café Martinho da Arcada - Terreiro do Paço