MURALHAS DE LISBOA
"CERCA VELHA" WALL

[A drawing of the wall and the place of the iron gate]

PORTA DO FERRO
O troço de muralha que parte do extremo ocidental do lanço ribeirinho, ainda conservado no edificado, integrava neste local a mais importante e monumental entrada da cidade medieval, designada no século XI por Bab al-Kabir - Porta Grande. As descrições conhecidas salientam a presença de arcos duplos assentes em colunas e bases em mármore.
Dava acesso, durante o período islâmico, à mesquita maior, ao mercado e aos banhos públicos. Identificada pelos cruzados como "porta férrea", talvez por se encontrar revestida de ferro, passou, após a conquista de 1147, a ser designada como Porta do Ferro, através da qual se fazia o acesso à Sé Catedral.
Com as remodelações urbanísticas de D. Manuel (1495-1521) foi alargada, recebendo o nome de Arco de Nossa Senhora da Consolação, designação da ermida edificada no seu topo. Em 1782, no âmbito das reformas urbanas pombalinas, o conjunto foi demolido dando lugar ao actual largo.

PORTA DO FERRO
In this location, the wall section that begins on the western end of the riverside stretch - which is still preserved in the existing buildings - integrated the most important monumental entrance to the medieval city, known in the 11th century as Bab al-Kabir - Porta Grande (Large Gate). Known descriptions highlight the existence of double arches resting on marble columns and bases.
During the Islamic period it allowed accessing the largest mosque, the market and the public baths. Identified by the crusaders as "ferrous gate", perhaps because it was coated with iron, it was named Porta do Ferro (Iron Gate) after the conquest of 1147. This gate was used to access the Cathedral.
It was widened under of the urban renewal plan carried out by King Manuel (1495-1521), and it was named Arco de Nossa Senhora da Consolação (Arch of Our Lady of Consolation) after the chapel built over it. In 1782, as part of the Pombaline urban reforms, the ensemble was demolished and replaced by the square that exists today.

[Map of the walls of Lisbon]

The sign is located where the "Iron Gate" was, which is part of the Lisbon Wall.

The sign and the square where it is located were photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The different parts of the sign were photographed in magnification that day
Illustration of the wall and the location of the iron gate
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The displayed text of the sign
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Lisbon wall map
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Translation of the text on the sign:
LISBON WALLS
"OLD FENCE" WALL