The São Bento Palace is also known as the 'Republic Assembly'
or 'Portuguese Parliament'. This is the place where the country's
future is decided by the politicians who are elected by the public
every four years. São Bento Palace originated from the first
Benedictine monastery built in Lisbon in 1598. In order to give shelter
to an increasing religious community and to be closer to the urban
centre, the monastery was moved to another location. Work on the
new structure was still ongoing when the earthquake of 1755 caused
serious damage to the monastery. During the 1820 Liberal Revolution
and the extinction of the religious orders in 1834, installation
of the Parliament in São Bento Palace occurred. Stairs were
built on the outside of the building in 1941 and are flanked by twin
lions, symbolically used as sentinels. On the main facade, and above
the stairs, there is an arcade where you can read the Latin word
'Lex' - in allusion to the Assembly's area of operation - and four
female allegorical statues - 'Prudence', 'Justice', 'Strength' and
'Moderation’. While not an incredible example of romantic architecture,
the structure nevertheless is stunning to look at and is well worth
a visit by any first time tourists to Lisbon.
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