{"id":17739,"date":"2024-10-22T12:45:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T12:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/santa-justa-lift-lisbon\/"},"modified":"2024-10-22T12:49:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T12:49:19","slug":"santa-justa-lift-lisbon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/santa-justa-lift-lisbon\/","title":{"rendered":"The Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Connecting the districts of Baixa (lower town) and Chiado (upper town), the Santa Justa Lift (also called the Carmo Lift) is undeniably one of Lisbon\u2019s most iconic landmarks.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to explore? Let\u2019s dive in! <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc4d Pro Tip:<\/strong> Access to the Santa Justa Elevator is included with the Lisboa Card<\/a><\/strong>! This handy card gives you unlimited access to public transport and free entry to some of the city\u2019s most famous attractions, including the Jer\u00f3nimos Monastery and the Bel\u00e9m Tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you’ll find here: <\/strong>
> A Brief History of the Santa Justa Lift<\/a>
> Visiting the Santa Justa Lift<\/a>
> Practical Information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2b50 Top Tip<\/strong>: Free guided tour of the capital <\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca4 Hotels accommodation: a<\/strong> selection of value-for-money accommodation. <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief History of the Santa Justa Lift<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1870s: <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Two proposals for basic structures<\/strong> to connect Baixa with Largo do Carmo are submitted to Lisbon’s City Council but are both rejected.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Late 19th century:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard<\/strong> persuades the council to let him build an elevator to link the lower and upper parts of the city<\/strong>. With help from architect Jacinto Augusto Mariares<\/strong>, who designs the metal structure, the project is set in motion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1900<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Construction of the Santa Justa Elevator begins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1901<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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King Carlos I inaugurates the structure and its walkway, <\/strong>though it isn\u2019t operational yet. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1902<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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On July 10, the elevator is officially opened to the public<\/strong>, originally powered by a steam engine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1907<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The lift switches from steam to electric power<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1973<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Santa Justa Lift is integrated into Lisbon\u2019s public transport network.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2002<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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To mark its 100th anniversary, the elevator is declared a national monument.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2010s:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The structure undergoes extensive restoration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Today:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Santa Justa Elevator stands as one of Lisbon\u2019s most iconic attractions<\/strong> and is a must-visit for anyone exploring the city!
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\u00a0\ud83d\udea0\u00a0\u00a0Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard: The Funicular King<\/strong> \u00a0\ud83d\udea0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Born in Porto in 1849 to French parents (hence his very French-sounding name!), Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard is famous for designing some of Portugal\u2019s most notable funiculars. These include Lisbon’s Elevador da Gl\u00f3ria, Elevador da Bica, and Elevador da Lavra, as well as the Bom Jesus funicular in Braga.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard was never a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, though his impressive ironwork might lead you to think otherwise! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Discovering the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered the history, it\u2019s time to dive into the real deal: let\u2019s explore the Santa Justa Lift! <\/p>\n\n\n

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The Lift from the Outside<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Santa Justa Elevator connects the lower district of Baixa with the upper areas of Chiado (and Bairro Alto, which is a little further up). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing 45 meters \/ 150 ft tall, its industrial silhouette proudly rises above the classical buildings of Rua de Santa Justa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built entirely from iron, the lift is adorned with neo-Gothic decorations like arches and rosettes. If you\u2019ve got a keen eye, you\u2019ll notice that the designs change slightly at each level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For an extra treat, try to swing by after dark\u2014it’s beautifully lit up at night! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the Lift<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the lift houses two wooden cabins, each with room for around 20 people going up (and just 15 on the way down!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meticulously restored, these cabins are fully lined with wooden panels, preserving all their original charm. Stepping inside feels like stepping back in time to the 19th century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viewing Platform (and Caf\u00e9) <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once at the top, you can continue your ascent by climbing the narrow spiral staircase to reach the viewing platform (entry fee: \u20ac1.50). From here, you\u2019ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Lisbon. The 360\u00b0 observation deck offers stunning sights of the city\u2019s iconic landmarks, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n