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The best independent guide to Lisbon
LisbonLisboaPortugal.com
The best independent guide to Lisbon
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Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon Guide
The Avenida da Liberdade is Lisbon’s main boulevard and the location for designer shops, expensive restaurants and trendy bars. Between the luxurious and exclusive decadence, there are fine examples of classical 19th-century Portuguese architecture and the two central plazas contain charming water features and grand statues.
The war memorial on the Avenida da Liberdade
The avenue extends up hill, from Restauradores square to the Marques de Pombal square and is a pleasant place for tourists to stroll along or stare into the windows of the fashionable boutiques. The walk along the length of the Avenida da Liberdade is a recommended activity for those visitors with plenty of time to discover Lisbon.
Tourist Guide for the Avenida da Liberdade Lisbon
The Avenida da Liberdade is the capital’s grandest avenue, stretching 1.5km in a north-western direction from the Baixa district up to the Parque Eduardo VII park. The boulevard is 90m wide and has space for 10 lanes of traffic and two 19th century styled plazas that run the length of the avenue.
Running beneath the avenue is Lisbon’s oldest metro line, the blue line, and the area is served by three metro stations; Restauradores, Avenida and Marques de Pombal. The Marques de Pombal station is situated at the top of the gentle hill, close to the Parque Eduardo VII park and this is the recommended start for a walk down the Avenida da Liberdade.
The tree-lined Avenida da Liberdade
Interesting Facts about the Avenida da Liberdade Lisbon
The avenue, originally constructed after the 1755 earthquake, was named the Passeio Público (public street). This was somewhat ironic as massive gates at both ends kept the commoners out of this private street of Lisbon’s rich. The Avenida da Liberdade's close association with the wealthy has continued to this day, with the designer shops helping make the avenue the 35th most expensive street in the world.
The statue of the Marques de Pombal at the top of the Avenida da Liberdade
The water features that run the length of the plazas were designed to represent the two major rivers of Portugal the Tagus and the Douro. The paths are lined with the traditional black and white stone mosaic patterns and these symbolise the waves of the oceans. The most significant monument is the dedication to the Portuguese soldiers that lost their lives during the First World War; Portugal lost a total of 50,000 troops during World War I.
The Avenida da Liberdade is the focal point for the Popular Saint Festivals held in mid-June. Each of the districts of Lisbon competes for the best carnival procession with lavish floats and costumes while the crowds celebrate with grilled sardines and beer.
How about a small group tour?
One of the best ways to discover Lisbon and to meet fellow travellers is to join a guided tour. We have worked with Getyourguide.com for the last six years, and some of the best tours of Lisbon include:
Avenida da Liberdade - History
Before the 1755 earthquake, the area was a wealthy but undefined region of the city. Under the direction of the Marques de Pombal, whose statue stands at the top of the street, the entire of Baixa district was rebuilt. The Avenida da Liberdade was styled after the wide boulevards of Paris but was solely for the rich of Lisbon.
In 1821, King John VI commanded that the gates be removed and the street was opened for public use. This relaxing of the entrance policy also coincided with the first transformation of the park with the introduction of the water features and fountains. The second and most significant transformation was in 1880 with the construction of the roads, pathways and formal gardens that visitors can enjoy today.
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If you've enjoyed our content, we'd like to ask for your support.
The internet landscape has changed, and small independent publishers like us face increasing challenges. Search engines now prioritize advertising over organic content, reducing our traffic, while AI systems increasingly copy our original work without attribution.
To help support us, please consider bookmarking our website for easy access. If you find an article useful, we encourage you to share it with friends or on social media. Equally, if you notice anything outdated or incorrect, please let us know so we can promptly address it.
We're always open to collaborating with brands, bloggers, and SEO/PR agencies who value independent creators. If you'd like to work with us or offer support, please reach out at: [email protected]
Thank you for being part of our community and helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.