Rua da Conceição: Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio or Commerce square of Lisbon is still often called Terreiro do Paço or the Palace Square by locals. But unfortunately there hasn’t been a palace here since 1755, when a devastating earthquake destroyed the royal residence and all the buildings around it.

Luckily, the royal family wasn’t in town on that day and survived. Later the royal family moved to a new palace, called the national palace of Ajuda, located on a hill above Belém.

One side of the square is open to the river, while at the center is a bronze equestrian statue of King Joseph I, who reigned at the time of the earthquake.

It's arcaded buildings still house a few government offices, but have been mostly turned into restaurants, including the city’s oldest café since 1782 called Martinho da Arcada, located on the northeastern corner of the square. 

To explore, the square and the river front, please hop off at Rua da Conceição.