Grove Koger
Maggie and I had scheduled only a few days in Lisbon toward the end of our 2017 visit to Portugal, but in retrospect we could have filled weeks. The city’s central districts are built on the steep banks of the Tagus River, and negotiating the maze of their streets can be more like a climb than a walk. As a result, we picked out a handful of destinations and arranged taxi rides.
One of our most enjoyable outings involved riding the elegant Elevador de Santa Justa. It’s an elevator, all right, but one that rises seven stories (nearly 150 feet) from the Rua de Santa Justa, just a few blocks from the city’s waterfront. A part of the city’s public transport system, it links the lower district of Baixa and the Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square), saving quite a bit of climbing. More importantly to us, however, its observation deck affords a breathtaking panorama of the city and the Tagus. Our hotel in Lisbon lacked a rooftop terrace, but the elevator nearly made up for it.
Designed by Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, who represented the Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa, the elevator began operation in mid-1902. It was powered at first by a steam engine (installed where the viewing platform is now) that pumped water into and out of tanks beneath the two elevator carriages, but the system was replaced by an electric engine in 1907. The structure is decorated with ornate ironwork, and the stylish carriages feature wood paneling, brass fittings, and mirrors.
After enjoying the view from the Elevador, we sought out a café for tea and some delectable pastéis de nata (see my post for May 5, 2020).
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The photograph at the top of the post is by titosoft and is reproduced from Needpix.com. The second photograph, which shows the Elevador prior to its conversion to electric power, is by Paulo Guedes and is reproduced from Wikipedia.
World Enough 