Books and quotes
by Lisbon's main historian:
MARINA TAVARES DIAS
« [...] Although Black Horse Square has been called Praça do Comércio ever since the 18th century, there are only a handful of Lisbon residents who do not know it by its former name, Terreiro do Paço, meaning the Palace Grounds. Before the great earthquake which destroyed Lisbon on the morning of November 1st, 1755, it was on this wide space of beaten earth (terreiro) that the royal palace (paço) was situated.
The chronicles inform us that some of the most valuable artistic treasures of Europe were to be found inside the palace. However, nothing was saved in the aftermath of the earthquake when the tsunami and the fire completed the damage. Under the orders of the Marquis of Pombal, Terreiro do Paço was rebuilt from 1758 onwards. Today it symbolises the post-earthquake era of downtown Lisbon, known as the Baixa. Shortly after being baptized with its new name, Praça do Comércio, it was given Lisbon's first statue of a king riding a horse (D. José I by the sculptor Machado de Castro).»
« [...] Although Black Horse Square has been called Praça do Comércio ever since the 18th century, there are only a handful of Lisbon residents who do not know it by its former name, Terreiro do Paço, meaning the Palace Grounds. Before the great earthquake which destroyed Lisbon on the morning of November 1st, 1755, it was on this wide space of beaten earth (terreiro) that the royal palace (paço) was situated.
The chronicles inform us that some of the most valuable artistic treasures of Europe were to be found inside the palace. However, nothing was saved in the aftermath of the earthquake when the tsunami and the fire completed the damage. Under the orders of the Marquis of Pombal, Terreiro do Paço was rebuilt from 1758 onwards. Today it symbolises the post-earthquake era of downtown Lisbon, known as the Baixa. Shortly after being baptized with its new name, Praça do Comércio, it was given Lisbon's first statue of a king riding a horse (D. José I by the sculptor Machado de Castro).»
Marina Tavares Dias
#LisboaDesaparecida
