Pillory of Lisbon

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Pillory of Lisbon (Pelourinho de Lisboa)

The Pillory of Lisbon is a National Monument in Lisbon’s main square, Santa Maria Maior. It sits in Largo do Pelourinho near the City Hall, the Church of São Julião, and the Navy Arsenal.

Origins and building
- The first pillory likely existed before 1179; the earliest records are from the 14th century. It moved around the city and was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
- A new pillory was built around 1619 in the Praça do Pelourinho Novo near the river. By 1783, the Largo do Pelourinho was laid out in the rebuilt area.

Notable events
- The site had one execution in 1790. In 1808, during the Peninsular War, the French left the pillar behind. It was vandalized in 1834 and later protected by an iron railing.

Protection and preservation
- The square was renamed Praça do Município in 1886. In 1910 the pillar was declared a national monument. In the late 20th century it was repaired and reinforced, and in the 2000s a protection zone for the area was defined.

Structure
- The monument stands on an octagonal limestone base with five steps, supporting a marble pillar topped by a metal armillary sphere. It formerly had an iron crosspiece with hooks and was surrounded by an iron railing.