“Heart of Stone,” Belém, Portugal

Considered one of the most cherished features of the city of Lisbon, and of many other cities and towns, the Calçada Portuguesa stands out not only for being part of a work of art in the form of a street “tapestry”—depicting shapes, patterns, and designs—but also for reflecting part of what constitutes the “Portuguese Soul.”

Its origins date back to 1842, when the patterns formed by laying two types of stone—limestone and basalt—on sidewalks began to be used. This type of paving quickly became quite famous, and by 1848, the design known as “Mar Largo” had become one of the most widely used patterns. Its spread to other cities and towns across Portugal was rapid. It eventually became one of the icons of the Portuguese capital.

Today, it is not limited to Portugal, and perhaps many of you have already walked on one across the ocean, on the American continent, as it was used on the Copacabana Beach Promenade and appears in all the thousands of photos taken daily at that fantastic location.

On a recent stroll through the riverside area of Belém, this pavement was a must-see.

Spanning several kilometers across the city, the whiteness of its limestone diffracts the sunlight—especially at day’s end—giving the buildings a comforting and photogenic golden glow.

The sky, changing by the second as it races toward sunset, takes on a dramatic dance of colors that leaves those outside transfixed by this small, daily, and free “miracle.”

Some symbols inspire the designs, with those evoking the Age of Discovery standing out most prominently—such as compass roses, armillary spheres, mermaids, waves, and caravels, among others.

And you, were you already familiar with this type of sidewalk paving? In your home countries, or where you currently live, is some type of decoration or similar artistic solution also used?

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