Rua Augusta Arch
The Rua Augusta Arch (Portuguese: Arco da Rua Augusta) is a stone, memorial arch-like, historical building and visitor attraction in Lisbon, Portugal, on the Praça do Comércio. It was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. It has six columns (some 11 m high) and is adorned with statues of various historical figures. Significant height from the arch crown to the cornice imparts an appearance of heaviness to the structure. The associated space is filled with the coat of arms of Portugal. The allegorical group at the top, made by French sculptor Célestin Anatole Calmels, represents Glory rewarding Valor and Genius.
Originally designed as a bell tower, the building was ultimately transformed into an elaborate arch after more than a century.[1]
Features
Because of the top cornice's great height (over 100 feet/30 m), the figures above it had to be made colossal. The female allegory of Glory, which is dressed in peplos and measures 23 feet (7.0 m), stands on a three-step throne and holds two crowns. Valor is personified by an amazon, partially covered with chlamys and wearing a high-crested helmet with dragon patterns, which were the symbols of the House of Braganza.[1] her left hand holds the parazonium, with a trophy of flags behind. The Genius encompasses a statue of Jupiter behind his left arm. At his left side are the attributes of writing and arts.
The four statues over the columns, made by Victor Bastos, represent Nuno Alvares Pereira and Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal on the right, and Vasco da Gama and Viriatus on the left. The two recumbent figures represent the rivers Tagus and Douro. The arch hold these figures to represent Portuguese history and show their dominance by incorporating Triumphal arch as they were victoriously rebuilding the city from the damages.
It appeared as the arch through which the Lilliputians wheeled Lemuel Gulliver in the 1996 miniseries Gulliver's Travels.[2][3]
See also
References
- v
- t
- e
- Águas Livres Aqueduct
- Ascensor da Bica
- Ascensor da Glória
- Belém Tower
- Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
- British Cemetery
- Café A Brasileira
- Campo Pequeno Bullring
- Casa dos Bicos
- Casa Fernando Pessoa
- Cordoaria Nacional
- Gare do Oriente
- Lisbon Astronomical Observatory
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Lisbon Zoo
- Mercado de Campo de Ourique
- Pillory of Lisbon
- Prazeres Cemetery
- Rossio Train Station
- Rua Augusta Arch
- Santa Justa Lift
- São Jorge Castle
- Torre do Tombo National Archive
- Vasco da Gama Tower
- Vasco da Gama Bridge
- 25 de Abril Bridge
- Berardo - Art Deco Museum
- Berardo Collection Museum
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
- Carmo Convent Archaeological Museum
- Carris Museum
- Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves
- Cordoaria Nacional
- Electricity Museum
- Ephemeral Museum
- José Saramago Foundation
- Macau Science and Culture Centre
- Museu da Água
- Museu Benfica
- Museu da Marioneta
- Museu Nacional da Música
- Museu das Comunicações
- Museu de Arte Popular
- Museum of Lisbon
- Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
- Museum of the Orient
- Museum of the Resistance and Liberty
- National Museum of Archaeology
- National Museum of the Azulejo
- National Coach Museum
- National Museum of Ancient Art
- National Museum of Contemporary Art
- National Museum of Clothing
- National Museum of Ethnology
- National Museum of Natural History & Science
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- Palacete Mayer
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- Quinta dos Lagares d'El-Rei
- São Bento Mansion
- São Bento Palace
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- Verride Palace
- Conceição Velha Church
- Estrela Basilica
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Igreja dos Anjos
- Igreja da Madalena
- Igreja da Memória
- Igreja do Menino Deus
- National Pantheon
- Santo António Church
- São Domingos Church
- São Roque Church
- Santa Luzia Church
- Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide Convent
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- Lisbon Cathedral
- Lisbon Synagogue
- Madre de Deus Convent
- Mártires Basilica
- Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
- Monastery of the Mónicas
- St. George's Church
and parks
- Avenida da Liberdade
- Afonso de Albuquerque Square
- Bela Vista Park
- Eduardo VII Park
- Estufa Fria
- Gulbenkian Park
- Marquis of Pombal Square
- Monsanto Forest Park
- Praça da Figueira
- Praça de Entrecampos
- Praça de Espanha
- Praça do Comércio
- Praça do Império
- Praça Martim Moniz
- Restauradores Square
- Rossio Square
neighborhoods
- Doclisboa
- Festival da Canção
- Globos de Ouro
- Lisboa Games Week
- Lisbon Book Fair
- Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival
- Lisbon Marathon
- Lisbon Half Marathon
- Lisbon Christmas tree
- LPFP Awards
- Ludopolis
- NOS Alive
- Olhares do Mediterrâneo - Cinema no Feminino
- Portugal Day
- Queer Lisboa International Queer Film Festival
- Sophia Awards
- Super Bock Super Rock
- Web Summit
entertainment
- Associação Gaita-de-fole
- Banda Sinfónica da Guarda Nacional Republicana
- Casino Lisboa
- Cinemateca Portuguesa
- Coliseu dos Recreios
- Cultural Centre of Belém
- Estádio da Luz
- Estádio da Tapadinha
- Estádio do Restelo
- Estádio José Alvalade
- Gulbenkian Orchestra
- Hot Club of Portugal
- Lisbon University Stadium
- MEO Arena
- National Ballet of Portugal
- Royal Patriarchal Music Seminary of Lisbon