Welcome to my 34th #monomad competition entry
Let me take you to one of Lisbon's most emblematic shopping areas. The Armazéns do Chiado, also known as Palácio de Barcelinhos or Grandes Armazéns do Chiado, are the result of a reconstruction that took place after a major fire in Pombaline society in 1988. I remember going to the so-called Grandes Armazéns do Chiado and riding the lifts, which went slowly up and down between floors.... Each floor would have a different type of product, goods or services. When I went there with my parents, it was always a mixture of excitement and joy and a little impatience, as you can imagine the amount of time we spent in this shopping area... and my mum took the opportunity to shop for clothes, which on the outskirts of Lisbon didn't have such a wide variety, nor such attractive prices.
Back in 2023, the area has changed a lot, but it has grown in its uniqueness. The iron lamps retain their original design, with the crow - the city's symbol - in a very prominent place. The Portuguese pavement, which with its zigzags leaves any foreigner in awe at the meticulous work of the pavers, is now highly valued and is even considered Cultural Heritage.
I'd like to highlight not only the architectural organisation, but also the façades of the buildings (which have already been restored, since they were hit by the great fire in 1988), which have been carefully restored. A pleasant contrast in architecture, as well as in the commercial spaces, which now line Rua Nova de Almada, make any tourist curious and invite them to come in and look for some very interesting purchases.
As when I come to these parts I have in mind more the objective of capturing the expressions of the passers-by, their postures, their habits, it's always an opportunity to observe the huge "shop window" of people!
I hope you enjoyed my post on this special B&W community!
Bem Hajam 🍀
Photographic edition with PhotoScape X
