For centuries downtown Lisbon has been the heart of the social, commercial and spiritual life of the city, as much as the centre  of power of Portugal. Despite this lasting prominence, a lot has changed since the Phoenician and the Roman occupation, when there was still an arm of the River Tejo flooding the area.

The earthquake of 1st November 1755 turned it into ruins, but provided the opportunity for an innovative reconstruction of the city’s downtown area, long awaited.

• The 1755 earthquake and the day after
• The Roman salted fish factories
• The Comércio Sq.: centre  of power
• Rebirth of Lisbon: the dream of a city come true
• A new city built on water
• The birth of modern seismology
• The hidden churches