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I spotted the Arco da Rua Augusta on my morning tour of Lisbon by TukTuk and knew instantly I had to go for a walk there. The long street acting as leading lines towards the arch at the end would be a fantastic photo opportunity. Even more so as it was Christmas and at the end was a beautiful tree framed by the arch.
I knew convincing my friends to go here would be an easy sell. Some would enjoy the view, and those on the fence would find the lure of shops too much to resist. Luckily I didn’t have to. Whilst me and a friend disappeared to ride the iconic tram 28, the rest had already noticed the shops and came here by themselves.
Myself and my friend thought this would be the perfect stop for us. So we got off at R. Augusta and started our walk down to the square whilst we tried to locate our friends. Eventually, they turned up in Pull & Bear. Since the idea of shopping on holiday,since shopping on holiday is my idea of hell, we told them to meet us in the square when they were done.
Through the Arch
Meandering down the street, the city was bathed in a warm yellow as we approached sunset. The light almost being absorbed by the stonework, I felt drawn to pass through the arch into the square. Unbeknownst to me at the time, you can actually go up the arch to get a view of the plaza from above. But from street level, it’s still staggering. I took some photos of the Arch whilst I still had some light.
In the centre of the square was a statue and a tree. The tree wasn’t lit yet, still waiting for the sun to completely drop. As keen as I was to see the statue, I was more excited to see the sunset. Knowing I didn’t have a lot of time left, I rushed across the plaza to the Cais das Colunas. This historic quay has steps leading down to the Tagus River, giving me a perfect place to grab shots of the sun setting on the water.
The arch is perfect for separating the square from the street. The street felt bustling and claustrophobic with the crowds, but when you pass through into the wide open square its like a release of fresh air.
Cais das Colunas
I managed to find a small space to rest my camera and tripod on the wall. Giving me a perfect view. We texted our friends telling them what they were about to miss, and two rushed to join us. For me every trip has a magical moment, the one point your mind rushes to as soon as you think back on that trip. For me it was this sunset. We managed to get some photos in the last of the golden light, some of which still remain my favourite.
Praça do Comércio
Sadly the light was only with us for a limited time, and considering we had taken enough photos, I used the last few minutes of light to explore Praça do Comércio. I grabbed a few photos of the Praça do Comércio statue in the square centre. Praça do Comércio means commercial square, and it was unveiled in 1775 with a celebration lasting for three days.
The arch is the Arco da Rua Augusta, built to symbolise a new Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. The arch itself is adorned with statues of Lisbon’s historical figures as well as the coat of arms for Portugal. It is truly beautiful, and towers over the square. The arch is perfect for separating the square from the street. The street felt bustling and claustrophobic with the crowds, but when you pass through into the wide open square its like a release of fresh air.
Exploring the square
There was no wild partying during my arrival, instead a stir of anticipation amongst the crowd. All eyes were now on the Christmas tree in the centre. It was time for the lights to turn on. I stood there, camera ready, and waited. I continued to wait, then thought maybe I should check the settings, making sure I had it set correctly. Just as I looked down at the camera screen I heard a quick buzz of electricity, followed by whoops and claps from the crowd. I looked back up to see the lights on, I had missed it. The tree was still beautiful to see.
I wish I had more of a chance to explore the bars here. Even in December people wI wish I had more of a chance to explore the bars here. Even in December people were out on the terraces, enjoying Portuguese wines. We found an interactive advert board, with a built-in camera that allowed us to take a group selfie. It came out pretty well considering we were quickly losing the light.
Time Out
We reached that point in the evening where we were starting to think about food. Since we had a few fussy eaters in the group, I had made plans. We would be heading across Lisbon to the Time Out Food Market. Here we would find a collection of restaurants from all types of cuisines, guaranteeing everyone would be satisfied. I have written a full guide to Time Out Lisbon, check it out through the link below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are loads of restaurants and bars in the square.
My personal favourite spot is Cais das Colunas. Here you can get beautiful views of the sun setting over the water.
The Arch is another great opportunity from either side. The square has lots of angles to explore so find what fits your style!
You can find the arch on the North side of the square, directly opposite the water.
The easiest way is by tram. The nearest stop is R. Augusta which is directly opposite the entrance via the Arco da Rua Augusta.
The square was complete in 1775 when it was unveiled to the public.
Why not jump on the tram and explore? Or head to the Santa Justa Lift? If you are hungry and need some food, Time Out Lisboa Food Market is a lovely walk and has some incredible food.