One of the most iconic sights of Lisbon is the Rua Augusta Arch, a massive triumphal arch that faces the river on one side and a large promenade of shops on the other. Thousands of people buzz around the place at all times, shopping, eating at restaurants, and watching buskers.
The arch was built to commemorate the reconstruction of the city after the earthquake in 1755. Part of the monument is a large equestrian statue, placed between the arch and the river, of King Joseph I leading the residents of Lisbon to safety.
The statue is of some note, as it is a massive statue that was cast in a single metal pour, one of the first in the world to be accomplished in that way. It was a great feat of engineering at the time.
The placement of the statue is part of the experience of the arch, as the arch frames it both from the front and from the back. However, I find it amusing that when you look through the arch from the promenade side, you get a perfectly framed image of a horse’s ass.
