Commerce Square and Rua Augusta Arch

Manuel I builds the Ribeira Palace on the river 1498-1502

King Manuel I breaks ground for a royal palace on the Tagus waterfront in 1498; by 1502 the court moves in, beside the shipyards and trading houses.

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Casa da Índia: the spice house under the palace 1511

From 1511 the Casa da Índia, founded by Manuel I in 1500 to run the Crown's spice monopoly, works from the ground floor of the Ribeira Palace; pepper, cloves and cinnamon pass through it (royal monopoly 1506-1570).

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Earthquake and tsunami wipe out the Royal Palace 1755

The 1755 earthquake and tsunami destroy the riverside Ribeira Palace; Pombal rebuilds the waterfront as an arcaded square.

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Lisbon earthquake, tsunami and fires of 1755 1 November 1755 (All Saints' Day)

Earthquake, then tsunami and fires destroy the lower town; Pombal rebuilds the Baixa on a plan. Anchor theme tag earthquake-1755.

The arch is finished 1875

More than a century after the earthquake, the triumphal Rua Augusta Arch finally crowns the square in 1875.

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National Monument 1910

Praça do Comércio is classified as a National Monument by the decree of 16 June 1910.

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