ONE OF Lisbon’s most famous squares, Praça do Comércio, is to be closed to traffic on Sundays.
The Lisbon Câmara initiative is to encourage less congestion and more pedestrians into the historic downtown area.
Called Lisboa aos Domingos, the no-traffic initiative will be operational between 8am and 8pm on both the square’s lateral lanes. However, on Thursday, the Câmara presented several alternatives for motorists needing to access the area.
Traffic diversions along the entire stretch of the route are to be signposted and monitored by PSP police agents.
The Câmara is also to make eight car parks available, among them Praça da Figueira, Restauradores, Largo Camões and Martim Moniz.
Starting last Sunday with the participation of bus company Carris, the company offered free tickets to those travelling to and from Praça do Comércio as a way of promoting public transport.
The Camâra is also sponsoring a number of cultural and leisure initiatives in the square including live jazz and classical music, traditional games and lessons in yoga and tai chi.
There will also be a photographic exhibition about the historical development of Terreiro do Paço, a mobile library, video booths where the public can see documentaries about Lisbon, a book fair and florist.
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