Baixa Chiado, 1755 Earthquake

Overview

The orange umbrella at Praça do Comércio is the signal to look for: this GuruWalk listing, Lisbon Essentials: Baixa, Chiado & the 1755 Earthquake, starts beside the statue in the middle of the square and spends 2 hours 30 minutes in the rebuilt heart of the city. The walk is in English and runs on a free, pay what you want basis, with guests paying the guide what they thought the walk was worth at the end. There is no pickup; travellers make their own way to the meeting point.

The route threads Baixa, the district rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake as one of Europe's first earthquake-resistant urban plans, and neighbouring Chiado, which became the city's cultural and intellectual quarter, home to writers, poets and artists. Along the way the guide covers the fall of the Portuguese monarchy, the Jewish tragedy in Lisbon, Europe's longest dictatorship and the Carnation Revolution. Sights named by the operator include Lisbon City Hall, Rua Augusta and its arch, the Santa Justa Elevator, Rossio Square, São Domingos Church, the Jewish Memorial, Carmo Square and Carmo Monastery, and Casa do Alentejo.

It suits anyone after a historical walking tour of downtown Lisbon who is happy on foot for the full duration and wants the political and cultural story, not just the facades. Reviewers described it as very informative, with lots of great facts shared.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Praça do ComércioFind the guide's orange umbrella at Praça do Comércio, next to the statue in the middle of the square. This is the meeting point, not a pickup.
2. Arco da Rua AugustaThe walk heads to the Arch of Rua Augusta, one of the first stops named in the tour's route.
3. Praça do MunicípioThe route continues to the municipal square, where Lisbon City Hall stands, a stop named in the tour description.
4. Rua AugustaThe tour then follows Rua Augusta, a stop named in the tour description. The full route has 12 stops; the operator shows only the first 3.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before reserving a spot on the GuruWalk page for this walk.

• Getting there. There is no pickup or transfer. Make your own way to Praça do Comércio and look for the orange umbrella next to the central statue.
• Pace and duration. The walk lasts 2 hours 30 minutes and covers Baixa and Chiado on foot. Plan for steady city walking with stops for the guide's commentary.
• Language. The tour runs in English only. Travellers who do not speak English comfortably should check the guide's GuruWalk page for anything else on offer.
• What you learn. Expect history rather than a quick photo circuit. The tour promises the fall of the monarchy, the Jewish tragedy in Lisbon, the longest dictatorship in Europe and the Carnation Revolution, and reviewers said the tour was very informative with lots of great facts shared.
• Paying the guide. Booking is free. Guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end, which is the pay what you want model this GuruWalk listing uses.
• Photographs. Stops named by the operator include the Santa Justa Elevator, Rossio Square and Carmo Square, all listed stops on the route.

Common issues. The operator states plainly that the route has 12 stops but only shows the first 3, so travellers cannot see the full route in advance. No food, drinks or entry fees are mentioned as included, and the walk is a city-centre walking tour of 2 hours 30 minutes, which may be long for anyone with limited stamina. Beyond that, the sources raise no specific complaints; the reviews available are positive about the information shared.

What To Know Before You Walk