Praça do Comércio, also known as the Terreiro do Paço, is a bustling port-facing plaza and one of Portugal’s largest plazas, located in Lisbon. It hosts many state departments, including ministries of finance, agriculture, and maritime affairs. The square was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, but later reconstructed by the Portuguese architect Eugénio dos Santos, who designed it in the shape of a ‘U’ with two large towers depicting the original monumental tower of the Ribeira Palace. The center piece of this beautiful plaza is an equestrian statue of King José I, which has become an iconic symbol of Lisbon. On 1 February 1908, the square was the site of a tragedy when Carlos I, the penultimate king of Portugal, was assassinated here during his arrival. To date, Praça do Comércio remains a lively hub connecting major transportation routes and locals celebrating Portugal's national day which occurs on June 10th.