Barreiro

Lisbon is divided into distinct neighborhoods. The center of activity is the district known as the BAIXA, or lower town. This is the area between the Praça do Comércio on the riverbank, through Dom Pedro IV Square (called the Rossio), and along the expansive Avenida da Liberdade to the Praça do Marques de Pombal. The Praça do Comércio is a gigantic 9-acre square surrounded by mostly government buildings, with an equestrian statue of King Jose I in the middle. The square was spruced up in preparation for the Expo that took place in the spring of 1998. You may hear or see the name Terreiro do Paço in reference to it: that means “Palace Square” and refers to a palace destroyed by the earthquake. Just off the southeast corner of the square is the ferry dock where you can take a boat to the city of Barreiro on the left bank of the Tagus. From another dock just east of there you can take a tranquil two-hour cruise on the river and glean a unique perspective of the city.