Lisbon - Carmo Lift Elevador do Carmo (Elevador de Santa Justa)

Must-see attractions nearby: Old Quarter Gulbenkian Museum Praça do Comércio St George's Castle Carmo Lift Igreja de Santa Engrácia / Panteao Igreja de Sao Vicente de Fora

In fact Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard was commissioned to design a lift which would overcome the approximately 32m/105ft height difference at this point. A few years earlier the same inventor had constructed another lift (no longer in existence) further south on the Largo do Municipio.

The Carmo Lift was built between 1898 and 1901 and was officially opened on August 31, 1901. Two cabins travel up and down the tower with room for 25 people in each.

The elaborate exterior is in a Neo Gothic style with touches of filigree. From the upper exit there is a marvelous view of the Rossio and the grid like street layout of the Baixa, as well as the Castelo de Sao Jorge opposite. There is also an interesting view from the bridge which crosses the Rua do Carmo at a great height and links the lift with the Largo do Carmo. The streets below, which were destroyed in August 1988 by a great fire are, now gradually being rebuilt. The fire was only put out a short way from the lift.