Bairro Alto, Chiado and Baixa

Lisbon acquired importance in the XV and XVI centuries: it became a big commercial supply station, and has been the start point to the sea-discoveries.

In the 1st November 1755, a terrible earthquake, followed by some fires, destroyed that part of the city, which later became known as Baixa Pombalina (In homage to the man that had been responsible for its reconstruction: Marquês de Pombal). This zone became the heart of the city, due to its special characteristics and urban planning: linear and similar.

Chiado and Bairro Alto, with their historic, urban composition and cultural differences, maintain till today, a complementary link, according to the urban scenery context. Its urban image organization derives of the territorial adjustments, due to the 1755's earthquake and due to Lisbon's growth and re-urbanization process.

Back to Bairro Alto | Back to Baixa and Chiado