Plaza de la Comercia is a wide quadrangle surrounded by arcades, with stairs descending to the river. The square is often called the Palace Square, as here stood the royal palace built by Manuel I and destroyed by the terrible earthquake of 1755. The palace was replaced by buildings with graceful arcades.
In the centre of the square on a high plinth stands an equestrian statue of the reformist king José I, whose minister was the Marquis de Pombal.
On the south side of the square rise two square towers. A road past them leads to the Tagus River. Opposite is the majestic Arc de Triomphe.
