Elevator de Santa Justa

Overview

Once upon a time, getting from the Baxio neighbourhood up to Bairro Alto was quite an inconvenience. Then came the Elevator de Santa Justa – an official public transport system of the early 20th century.

Originally powered by steam when it opened in 1902 as Elevador do Carmo, this 45-metre-tall elevator was switched to an electric motor in 1907. Visitors today can appreciate some of the excitement that drew hordes of Lisbon's residents to purchase tickets for the first day of operation – 3000 tickets, in fact.

It's still a practical way to get between the two districts, but it's also a beautiful piece of engineering and neo-gothic ironwork, sharing stylistic qualities with the Eiffel Tower and the French funiculars. Nowadays, most visitors ride the Elevator to enjoy the excellent view over Baxia from the observation deck.