Colombo Centre
The Colombo Centre, known in Portuguese as Centro Colombo, is a large shopping mall in the Carnide parish of Lisbon. It’s near Avenida Lusíada and the Segunda Circular, with a bus terminal next to the building and the Colégio Militar/Luz metro station close by for easy access.
The name Colombo was chosen in the late 1980s during planning, as the project explored the idea that Columbus might have Portuguese roots. The mall was designed by architect José Quintela, a partner on other Sonae Sierra malls. The concept was shown to the public in 1994, construction began in 1995, and the mall opened on 15 September 1997. Portugal’s first Fnac store opened there on 28 February 1998.
The design theme celebrates the Age of Discovery, with interior squares and hallways named in its honor, such as the “Avenue of the Discoveries” and the “Tropic of Cancer Square.” From 2007 to 2009, the mall updated its interior to blend modern styles with the original look. Colombo is committed to environmental practices, including energy saving and waste recycling.
Inside, the mall offers a wide range of shops and services, including shoe shines, clothing stores, food and stationery shops, a chapel, and a supermarket. It also features nine cinema screens, a bowling alley, an outdoor garden, and more than 60 restaurants.
Centro Colombo is the largest shopping mall in Portugal by the number of stores and the biggest in the Iberian Peninsula for that measure, hosting brands like Fnac, Zara, Sport Zone, Adidas Originals, and Portugal’s largest Primark. It covers about 119,725 square meters and has around 340 stores.
The planned Colombo Towers were part of the original project but their construction was delayed by a city embargo. Work finally began in 2007, with Torre Oriente (East Tower) completed first and Torre Ocidente (West Tower) finished in 2011.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:53 (CET).