So true @Austinelewex . In the 15th and until the late 16th century, referred to as the Age of Discovery, Portugal became the first global maritime and commercial empire and during this time established itself in and colonized parts of distant lands, the Americas, Brazil, Canada, and Africa. I have also read that the Portuguese may have also been the first to also discover Australia! I guess it is for these reasons that Portuguese is still spoken in many parts of the world and as you mention, there are traces of the language in Nigeria today! It was the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which I mention in my post that was the turning point and when the country’s global power and influence began to decline.
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@PeteMHW Here’s a post that’s right up your alleyway!
@AdamGT Thanks for this fascinating post! I’m usually history-phobic in the sense that it goes in one ear, and out the other not because I’m not interested but because it just doesn’t stick. Out of curiosity, how did you know about all these information: pre-visit research, did a tour there or went to a museum etc? I rarely research the historical context of a venue. I just like taking photos and enjoying them as they are in the present and try to absorb whatever tidbits of info that I pick up along the way.
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So glad that you also enjoyed my post @AdrianLunsong . I was never much into history myself until I traveled and then had flashbacks to those early history classes and assignments or projects at school which at the time went in one ear and straight out the other. We learned about the great explorers including Christopher Columbus and Vasco de Gama. Because of the discoveries of Vasco de Gama, widely considered milestones in world history, we learned about how powerful Portugal was in fact it was the first global maritime and commercial empire! Evidence of this empire still exists today in different parts of the world by, for example, the existence or traces of the Portuguese language. It was during my first trip to Portugal that I wondered how, when and why it lost that global leadership and it was out of this curiosity that when in Lisbon I found out about the Roman buildings that were discovered after the Great Lisbon Earthquake. What earthquake, I asked? Well from chatting to locals and some basic research you find that this was among the biggest in history and it all but flattened the city and it caused a massive tsunami. And from there it wasn’t at all difficult to see that this was the turning point when Portugal’s global power and influence began to decline. While like you, most and me included rarely research the historical context of a place and just wander around taking pictures,sadly many miss information that can enrich their visit 
I’ve said this before, I’ve improved a lot since becoming a Local Guide as I’ve noticed that I now pay a lot more attention to detail.
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@AdamGT I barely remember the history I learned in school unfortunately, but it is nice to get a ‘refresher’ on Connect and sometimes, I do get a “Aha!” moment like I did reading your reply and the obscure dots floating in my head suddenly makes a connection! Thanks!
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Hi @AdamGT
Wonderful post about the beautiful city of Lisbon 
. I have been there several times.
The earthquake was devastating as you mentioned.It was also noticed in Spain 
. That earthquake changed our coastline. For example Isla Cristina is an small island that appeared in 1755. I live in an area of earthquakes… and we are starting to get ready to the next big seaquake or earthquake … Experts foresee one soon (maybe 1 year or 200… in geological terms it is not that long)
Greetings from the South of Spain, on the Border with Portugal.
Alejandra.
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Thank you @AlejandraMaria for your appreciation. Yes this was a massive earthquake and parts of Spain (Salamanca) as well as Morocco were also destroyed and then there was the resultant tsunami along the Andalusian Atlantic Coast, with its 20 metres (65 feet) high waves that nearly destroying the beautiful city Cádiz.
You said that where you are in South of Spain you are starting to get ready for the next predicted seaquake or earthquake so what exactly are you doing Alejandra?
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Hi @AdamGT ,
Yes, we are preparing just in case…
For example, here is a photo of the route we have to follow in case of tsunami. I took this pic in Praia Verde (Portugal, very close to my home).
And every School has its evacuation plan.
I hope not live that critical situation…
Greetings from the South of Spain,
Alejandra.
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@AdamGT Even after that massive destruction by earth quakes and Tsunami, this city redevelop itself very big and beautiful. You pictures Justify itself. Lisbon is always in bucket list because of history. This photos charging me to visit Lisbon ASAP>
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As they say if you “fail to plan, you plan to fail” so it’s good to hear that based on the predictions which I have also read about, the authorities there are seriously planning and implementing evacuation plans @AlejandraMaria . Indeed we hope that it doesn’t happen.
Thanks for your appreciation @Sahilmsk2208 . Yes Lisbon is really a beautiful European city. in fact one of the most beautiful, and it is amazing that it has been rebuilt to what it is today after such a massive destructive earthquake and “flow on” Tsunami. I do wish that you will one day visit it. In fact, I also wish that I myself will visit it again. Having been there 3 times now I find with a city like this, there is always something exciting to discover and enjoy.
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Dear Adam,
And you know why it’s called Rua da Prata?
Because after the earthquake, that street was assigned to silver sellers.
Perpendicular to this is Rua do Ouro (Golden street). Imagine why? 