Lisbon - Palácio Pombal / Palácio dos Carvalhos

The Palácio Pombal, also called the Palácio dos Carvalhos, was for a long time the home of the Pombal family. Sebastiao José de Carvalho e Melo, later Minister Pombal, was born here in 1699. The building remained undamaged by the earthquake; however, after the disaster, Pombal had it altered by Carlos Mardel, who was one of the main architects to assist with the city's reconstruction. In accordance with the taste of the forerunner of rational enlightenment in Portugal, the long building is relatively plain and unadorned.

The small bridge, which crosses the adjoining Rua da Academia das Ciências, used to link the palace with its garden. The fountain area opposite the palace, which is no longer in working order, is said to be the work of Carlos Mardel. The small square is lined by high, partly overgrown walls, which form the border to the higher plain of Bairro Alto.