Lisbon was not born Pombaline on the morning following the earthquake of November 1, 1755. The article explores the process of rebuilding the city after the great earthquake that destroyed Lisbon on that day. Among the rubble, a fundamental question emerged that went beyond simply rebuilding the buildings: what Lisbon should be built.
The article addresses the five hypotheses that the Marquis of Pombal analyzed for the reconstruction of the Portuguese capital. This analysis process was far more complex and troubling than simply deciding how to rebuild the destroyed buildings.
Before iconic elements such as Rua Augusta, the Praça do Comércio, or the almost perfect geometry of the Baixa Pombalina emerged, there was an extensive period of planning and reflection about the future of the city. The reconstruction was not an immediate process, but rather the result of a careful study of multiple possibilities.