This boulevard, built in the 19th century in the style of the Champs-Elysees in Paris, is the main avenue of the city. It runs north for a mile (1.6km) from Restauradores to Marquês de Pombal Square , and is more than 300 feet (90m) wide. Today the avenue still has a certain elegance with fountains and cafe tables shaded by trees, as well as a pavement decorated with abstract patterns. Some of the original mansions have been preserved, and many are outstanding from an architectural standpoint. In the avenue is also the Monument to the Heroes of the Great War, a tribute to the 50,000 Portuguese soldiers who fought in World War I. The avenue is also the site of the city's grander hotels, banks, airline offices, and designer shops, including names like Louis Vuitton, D&G, Tods, Burberry, among others. by golisbon
