ROC2C

Art in Cobblestones One of the endearing hallmarks of Portugal's streets is their decorated pavements. Limestone is hewn into tiny blocks creating beautiful patterned compositions, traditional and modern designs, street numbers, and business logos.  Rossio Square Chiado Avenida da Liberdade Other designs show armillary spheres, caravels and vessels, crosses, stars, and animals. It all started in 1849 after the completion of the wave design known as "the wide sea" in Lisbon's  Rossio Square . By the end of that year, the pavements of the  Chiado  district and  Avenida da Liberdade  were also completed. Eventually most of Lisbon's streets were paved this way, and it spread throughout the country. These pavement designs are also seen in Portugal's former colonies, with the "wide sea" design seen in Rio de Janeiro's famous beaches, and even in one of Macau's main squares.  Rio Janeiro - Calçadão Copacabana ergonofacts.bl...

Baixa Lisbon - Portugal Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

Rossio, Lisbon, Portugal Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

Baixa Lisbon - Portugal Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

Lisbon, Portugal Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

The Rossio is the popular name of the Pedro IV Square ( Portuguese : Praça de D. Pedro IV ) in the city of Lisbon , in Portugal . It is located in the Pombaline Downtown of Lisbon and has been one of its main squares since the Middle Ages. It has been the setting of popular revolts and celebrations, bullfights and executions, and is now a preferred meeting place of Lisbon natives and tourists alike. The current name of the Rossio pays hommage to Pedro IV , King of Portugal as well as first Emperor of Brasil (as Pedro I). His bronze statue is seen on top of a column in the middle of the square. In mid-nineteenth century the square was paved in black and white , with wavy patterns . It was one of the first drawings of this sort to decorate the floors of the city . On the north side of the square is the Teatro Nacional D. Mary II, which is named after the daughter of D. Peter D. Maria II . http://en.wikipedia.org Photos: Celso Gonçalves Roc2c

Rua Augusta (Augusta street) is located in one of the busiest quarters of Lisbon. Closed to traffic, this pedestrianised street has all sorts of shops for all sorts of tastes, flower peddlars, hot chestnuts sellers, street cafés, independent street Artists like the "statue man" or the familiar harmonica player and many, many more. This street has on both extremes two magnificent squares: the Rossio Square and the Commerce Square. Near the arch that gives way to the Commerce Street you will find many peddlers with all sorts of things to sell from jewellery to shoes to handbags, neck-scarfs to temporary tattoos... anything... just name it! Another curious thing in this area is the name of the streets that run parallel to Rua Augusta. They all come from the occupations or the materials once existent and worked on here: Rua dos Sapateiros (shoemakers), Rua da Prata (silver), Rua do Ouro (gold), etc. The old architectural style, originally from the reconstruction of Lisbon made by...