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Largo de Jesus, Lisbon, Portugal, 2017[open in full screen]  

 
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We were attracted by this place on the first day of our stay in Lisbon. Hi on the hill in Bairro Alto district visible in the distance is Church of Our Lady of Jesus, finished in this form in 1552. We stayed just steps away and we knew that there is an underground garage on the square. Few years ago when city officials descided to bult parking here to accomodate visits to the huge and very active hospital located on the square, construction presented itself as opportunity to uncover potentially rich archaeological remains.
[link to the archeology report].

Not much is known about the area during the Roman and medieval period, but since 1597 when this area was urbanized and settlement started square was known as Largos dos Cardais, a site of "uncultivated".

  There was also a small hermitage [religious retreat], donated in 1582 by Luis Rodrigues to the Order of St. Francis. Order undertook the construction of a small on-site hospitium, which was progressively expanded and refurbished, with the building of the convent space and the main chapel, still existing today.

With very careful process of uncovering and recording the past archeologists were able to observe the stratigraphic succession of successive destructions and remodelling of the space until assuming the present configuration, thus outlining a significant contribution to the knowledge of Lisbon's unknown history.

We found this azulejos [famous portuguese tiles] found in the Museu Nacional do Azulejo [the image bellow]. Largo de Jesus obviously existed at the time of the begining of urbanization in 16th century.

  Largo de Jesus was historic center of the Mercês parish, framed by the Church of Our Lady of Jesus, the Convent of Jesus, the Mendia Palace, The Palace of the Alcáçovas and the Liceu Passos Manuel.

Presently above mentioned hospital is sharing public space with high school, giving the square very lively atmosphere during the week, and kids using plato in front of the church as a small football field, in the evening. For unknown reason, statue of Machado De Assiss, 19th century Brazilian writer is placed here. Lisbonians are appreciative of the writers, visible in many monuments around the city, but this one is obviously not respected very much.

In the distance palace of Sao Bento is clearly visible, where Portuguese parliament is settled.

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Last time updated on December 15, 2020 16:57  
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