Santa Justa Lift

Elevator/Lift of Santa Justa/Carmo. Too many names for the same monument. 🤯 It is a 45-meter-high tower made of cast iron and decorated with filigree lattice worked, in neo-gothic style. Inside the tower, there are two full of character wooden elevator cabins that transport us directly to the end of the 19th century. Wouldn’t that be nice? A journey back in time to the Belle Époque. 😜

The lift takes you from Rua do Ouro to the penultimate floor, where there is a walkway connecting to Rua do Carmo or, of course, you can also go the other way round. On the top floor, it was once a restaurant. Then they turned it into a viewpoint with a magnificent panoramic view over the city, unfortunately it is closed since 2022. We’re eagerly awaiting its reopening, but don’t worry, on the penultimate level, the view is just as incredible.

Now, I bet the question on many people’s minds is: why on earth is there a lift in the middle of the city? Well, anyone who has walked the streets of Lisbon has surely realised the meaning of the phrase “Lisbon, City of Seven Hills”. And they’re never marked on the map. Mr. GPS says 350 metres and we think, ah, it’ll will be quick. And suddenly, yes, 350 metres, but with a slope equivalent to seven storeys! 🥵

Today, changes that come with time, few people live and make a life in this part of town. Generally speaking, those who walk around Baixa are shopping or sightseeing. It doesn’t matter if it takes us a few minutes longer to reach our final destination. Actually, we’d even appreciate it if it means losing a few calories. But let’s travel back to the end of the 19th century and imagine our day-to-day life on foot through the city centre. Few people had their own cars and, at the time, public transport was the so-called American, animal-drawn carriages. Autch! Imagine walking home with children and shopping bags in hand. The child pulls because he sees his friend whim whom he wants to play, the shopping bag falls on the ground and the can of sausages rolls down the street. 🤬 And all this logistics, every day! Well, one thing’s for sure, nobody needed a gym, just meditation. 😜

It was in this context that a good soul, Mr Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, presented to the Lisbon City Council projects to build and operate a few mechanical lifts. We had to shorten the distances for the people of Lisbon and give the poor animals a break.

Diário Ilustrado 10Julho1902

Now tell me, what nationality is the man? His name suggests he was French, but he was actually born in Porto. He studied abroad and many describe him as a pupil of Gustave Eiffel. We searched, but couldn’t find any reliable source to confirm this. The doubt remains.

It’s worth of mentioning that this engineer developed some of the mechanisms used in weapons and designed the “Arithmotecno”, an instrument intended to perform mathematical operations with absolute rigour. Can we call him the grandfather of today’s calculating machines? He also directed the construction of various lifts and funiculars throughout the country. More than 100 years later, many of them no longer exist. But still, how many of us have ridden the Bom Jesus lift in Braga, the Nazaré lift or, in Lisbon, the Lavra (the city’s oldest), Glória or Bica lifts? Is it or isn’t it a fantastic ride? This Mr Ponsard was indeed a “gadget man” and made life easier for many people.

Back to Santa Justa Lift, the project began to be thought up in 1890. In 1896, engineer Raul Mesnier set the project in motion by applying to the City Council for a licence to build and operate a lift linking Rua do Ouro to Largo do Carmo. In 1899 he was granted both licences. The operating licence for a 99-year concession.

Construction took almost three years. It was a true engineering masterpiece that required rigorous planning and excellent project execution. The first phase of the work required the removal of soil in the area of the Santa Justa steps. Easy. Afterwards, the construction of the tower that would hold the two lift cabins. The biggest challenge came later. The top of the tower had to be connected to Largo do Carmo, where there were already buildings and almost no space for manoeuvres. The Count of Tomar, owner of the building where the metal walkway ends, authorised the work, but with strict conditions. The structure of his building could not bear the weight of the deck. A pillar was needed between the two connected points to support the load of the walkway. For the same reason, there could be no scaffolding supported on this building either. The engineer took on the challenge and comply. And so, on 31 August 1901, in the presence of King Carlos and a whole audience who came to see the achievement, in just three and a half hours, a lever system was used to raise the walkway over Rua do Carmo, connecting the top of the Santa Justa Elevator tower to Largo do Carmo.

Nenea Hartia (2020) Sketch depicting rotation and lifting into their final positions of the viaduct and pillar of Santa Justa Lift

At the end of that year, they installed the cabins and the engine, which to the displeasure of many, was steam-powered. Finally, on 10 July 1902, the lift was inaugurated with great pomp and circumstance. That very day, more than 3,000 tickets were sold for the lift ride. Huge novelty, everybody wanted a ride. Unfortunately, Raul Mesnier himself was unable to attend the ceremony due to a bout of sciatica. Age is a bitch. 😅

As mentioned, there was a lot of criticism on the fact that the engine installed in the lift was steam-powered. It wasn’t long before it was replaced by an electric one. It happened as early as 1907. In 1913, the operation of the lift was sold to the Company Lisbon Electric Tramway Ltd, and eventually to Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa, to whom it still belongs today.

In 2010, Carris created an Art in Motion project in the city’s lifts. The idea was to establish a bridge between the stories and experiences of the past and the present. In the Santa Justa lift, the artist Susana Mendes Silva created a very interesting project. In the lift, a message in several languages invited passengers to share photographs and stories of their experience on a blog (www.santa-justa.blogspot.com). Almost like a community Olisipographer. 😃

If you’re wondering why there’s a purple doll with a hoover in her hand on the pillar supporting the walkway, ask Superlinox. According to the artist, “Sofia” is there watching passers-by, “loves Chiado and can’t stand crumbs”.

Now, extremely important information: the lift ride is an incredible experience, but unfortunately you can’t always wait in line. If you want to avoid it, enter via Largo do Carmo.

As you can see from the photo, that’s probably what the President of Brazil did on his visit to Portugal. 😜 There’s no ticket office for the lift ride up here, but the access to the incredible view over the city is free. If you have the navegante pass, a daily ticket from the transport network or the Lisbon Card, you already have your ticket for the lift ride and, at the top, there are usually no queues.

This lift that was built over 120 years ago to integrate the city’s public transport network, has been classified as a National Monument since 2002. It is one of the most visited and photographed monuments in the city. By our reckoning, it has the capacity to transport almost 10,000 people a day.

If for some reason you can’t try the lift, at least come and enjoy the 360º view of our beloved city of Lisbon.

Informations:

- Website: Elevador de Santa Justa

References:

- Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro. Ano 15 (350). 16 de Julho de 1902 in Hemeroteca Municipal de Lisboa
- Delgado, H. (s.d.) O Elevador de Santa Justa na obra do Engenheiro Raul Mesnier de Ponsard. Que Futuro?
- http://www.monumentos.gov.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=3146
- https://servicos.dgpc.gov.pt/pesquisapatrimonioimovel/detalhes.php?code=70141
- https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevador_de_Santa_Justa
- https://www.publico.pt/1999/05/02/jornal/o-homem-dos-elevadores-132963
- https://restosdecoleccao.blogspot.com/2014/10/elevador-de-santa-justa-carmo.html
- https://www.publico.pt/2010/01/04/culturaipsilon/noticia/quatro-elevadores-de-lisboa-com-intervencoes-de-artistas-portugueses-1416228
- https://www.timeout.pt/lisboa/pt/noticias/superlinox-o-artista-misterio-deixou-sofia-no-elevador-de-santa-justa-070522

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