Lisbon’s topography makes the Portuguese capital a city developer’s worst nightmare. Historically, its steep and rugged terrain has been one of the main drawbacks to plan an efficient road network and interconnect the various districts of the old town.
This factor, precisely, was the reason behind the wave of lift-building that took place in the late 19th century. These lifts, together with the funiculars and trams worked as a link between the high and low parts of town and are still used by locals and tourists to get around the city.
The only survivor from all the vertical transportation network of Lisbon, and certainly the most beautiful, is the Santa Justa Lift. A metal structure halfway between a Gothic belfry and the Eiffel Tower.
This emblematic Lisbon facility consists of a monumental lift for public use that connects the lower center of the city (Baixa) with the Chiado neighborhood , located at the top of one of the hills on which the Portuguese capital sits.
This Art-Nouveau wonder, with strong gothic influences was opened to the public in 1902. It was designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, a French-Portuguese engineer and a disciple of Gustave Eiffel.
In 1899 he founded the Empresa do Elevador do Carmo, responsible for the building and operation of the elevator. The construction of the Santa Justa lasted just over two years. In 1901, King Charles and other members of the Portuguese Royal Family attended the opening of the upper deck. However, it was not until the year after when the booth and the elevation steam mechanism were installed. In 1907, the Lisbon Electric Tramway Ltd. replaced the original elevation system to make it a fully electric mechanism.
Currently, Santa Justa part of the public transport network of the city and is operated by the local transit company, Carris.
The elevator is a wrought iron vertical structure located at Rua de Santa Justa. It’s basically a metal tower with an observation deck, a walkway and a base with four columns. The total height of the building is 45 meters , or approximately seven floors. It has two separate cabins that can carry 29 people each.
At the top of the tower there is a kiosk and an observation deck with panoramic views of Lisbon.
Most of the tower’s decoration is made with iron, a material very innovative for its time.
The Santa Justa elevator is one of the engineering milestones of early twentieth century Portugal. At the time, metal structures and elevators were seen as miraculous inventions, result of scientific progress.
views of Lisbon from the Santa Justa Lift
