Although there are many pictures of the arch taken every day, people barely know what they are really seeing.

With its construction finished in 1875, the arch had the goal to showcase Lisbon’s resilience after the 1755 earthquake that destroyed the city.

Within the arch, there are statues of historically important Portuguese figures like Marquês de Pombal, the prime minister responsible for the reconstruction of Portugal after the earthquake. There is also Vasco da Gama, a well-known Portuguese navigator, Virgílio Correia, a Roman Governor, and Nuno Álvares Pereira, a warrior who became a saint.

The three larger figures on top represent Glory crowning Valor, a symbol for courage and strength and Genius, which stands for knowledge and intelligence.

Above them all stands in Latin:

To the Virtues of the Greatest, that it may serve as a lesson to all.

Dedicated to the public.

Perhaps this description allows you to look a bit deeper into this marvel of architecture.

Be well.