Restauradores Monument

You are now at the heart of Praça dos Restauradores, standing before a 30 meter white obelisk that marks one of the boldest moments in European history. On December 1, 1640, a small group of Portuguese noblemen stormed the royal palace just a few streets from here, threw a Spanish official out the window, and ended 60 years of foreign rule in a single morning.

The Monument to the Restorers honours those who fought in the Portuguese Restoration War, a 28 year struggle that began with that daring palace raid. The Duke of Braganza was proclaimed King João IV that same day, founding a new royal dynasty. Spain was caught off guard, already fighting wars across Europe, and couldn't stop the rebellion. The two bronze figures at the monument's base represent Independence and Victory. Engraved along its sides are the dates of major battles like Montes Claros in 1665, where Portuguese forces destroyed a Spanish army.

Spain finally recognized Portuguese independence in 1668. What makes this monument remarkable is that ordinary families in Portugal and Brazil donated the money to build it in 1886, not the government. It became the first place where the Portuguese Republic flag was unveiled.