Lisboa downtown area (Rossio, Praça da Figueira and Rua Augusta) ... ...

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The downtown area of Lisboa is quite nice, starting with Dom Pedro IV Square (commonly referred to as Rossio Square) with its neoclassic Teatro Dona Maria (National Theatre Dona Maria), which for me is a lot more than what it looks from the outside, once I have often been there to watch several theatrical plays, some of which played by my own youngest daughter.

The two identical fountains located on each side of the Statue of King Dom Pedro IV (King of Portugal and first Emperor of Brasil) "embelish" the square in a rather gracious way and so do the fountain mermaids ..., which I tend to look at everytime I walk by.

I feel drawn to details and if looking up to the statue of King Dom Pedro IV in Rossio Square I fell for an image on the column where it stands, something rather similar happened to me whilst admiring the Neo-Manueline Restauradores train Station, as my attention was drawn to the sculpture of the young King Dom Sebastião, who vanished (almost certainly killed) in the Battle of Alcacer Quibir in Africa in 1578 and who according to the legend will return on a foggy morning to claim his throne.

Strolling around Praça da Figueira Square one is almost certainly drawn to the imposing equestrian statue representing King Dom João I.

 

As one continues walking down towards the river Tagus the pedestrian street Augusta one might be tempted to stop several times so as to watch the  street performances that are commonly carried out along it. Some may be just above average but from time to time there may be a few worth stopping for.

Right in the corner of Rua Augusta and Rua de São Nicolau there is a small statue which  rarely calls the attention of the passer-by, though it is allegorically the symbol of the Phoenix and the ability to be reborn from its own ashes, which is what actually happened to the city after the 1755 earthquake.

(To be continued)