Avenida da Liberdade is an important boulevard in central Lisbon, Portugal, famous as one of the most expensive shopping streets in Europe. Originating in the Passeio Público, an 18th-century park built for the Portuguese nobility, the avenue was built in 1879, when the former park was turned into a major boulevard, marking the northward expansion of the city during the 19th century. It has since become one of the most prestigious addresses in Portugal and one of Europe's most popular luxury shopping destinations, as the home to numerous luxury stores, boutiques, and hotels. The Avenida is also home to numerous embassies and diplomatic missions. The Avenida is a 90-metre-wide boulevard, 1100 m long, with ten lanes divided by pedestrian pavements decorated with gardens. It links Marquis of Pombal Square in the north to Restauradores Square, the entrance to the Lisbon Baixa. It is commonly referred to by the inhabitants of Lisbon simply as the "Avenida".
History
The Avenida da Liberdade, as well as the Restauradores Square, have their origins in a public park inaugurated in the area in 1764. Projected by Pombaline architect Reinaldo Manuel, the park was initially surrounded by a high wall. It was revamped in the 1830s and 1840s by architect Malaquias Ferreira Leal, who introduced a new arrangement of the flora as well as fountains, a waterfall and statues. The allegoric statues representing the Tagus and Douro rivers still existing in the boulevard of the Avenue date from this time. After much discussion and polemics, the Avenue was built between 1879 and 1886, modelled after the boulevards of Paris. Its creation was a landmark in the Northwards expansion of the city, and it quickly became a preferred address for the upper class. The Avenue was planned to expand further north, through what is the present central lawn lane of the Eduardo VII Park. However, these plans were abandoned in the 1960s. Many of the original buildings of the Avenue have been demolished in the last decades and replaced by modern office and hotel buildings. Nowadays, it boasts several interesting buildings that reflect Portuguese architecture from the late 19th through the early 21st centuries. Its pedestrian sidewalks and roundabouts, paved with the traditional Portuguese pavement, are decorated with many monuments and statues that pay hommage to important personalities like Almeida Garrett, Alexandre Herculano and others. The large monument to the fallen in World War I, inaugurated in 1931, is the work of Rebelo de Andrade and Maximiano Alves.
Luxury destination
Avenida da Liberdade's central location and proximity to the prestigious locations and institutions, like the Chiado district, Marquis of Pombal Square, Queen Maria II National Theatre, the Avenidas Novas, Eduardo VII Park, the Lisbon Baixa, and numerous others, the avenue has long been considered the heart of Lisbon and its most prestigious address. It has become an international luxury destination for its shopping, hotels, and fine dining. The avenue is home to one of the largest concentration of international luxury brands in Europe, including brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Dior, Chanel, Versace, Balmain, Gucci, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Christian Louboutin, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Tod's, Burberry. The Avenida is home to numerous luxury hotels, including those from the following groups: Sofitel, :pt:Tivoli Hotels & Resorts|Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, :pt:Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection|Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, and Fontecruz Hotels, among numerous others.
Transportation
The Avenida is a major artery road in central Lisbon, connecting the Avenidas Novas to the Lisbon Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and more. There are three Lisbon Metro stations along the avenue:
Restauradores at the southeast end, served by the blue line.
Avenida at about the midpoint of the avenue, served by the blue line.
Marquês de Pombal at the northwest end, served by the blue and yellow lines.
