After the earthquake, the Baixa's streets were shared out among the trades.

The story

After 1755, Lisbon's lower town was rebuilt with a ruler: straight streets, identical buildings. A royal order of 5 November 1760 named the streets and assigned certain trades to some of them. Goldsmiths were to work on Rua Áurea, and harness-makers, saddlers and turners on Rua dos Correeiros. Lisbon people still say Rua do Ouro, Gold Street, although the sign reads Rua Áurea.

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Context

Pombal thus brought order not only to the street plan but to trade as well: a shopper knew where to look for a ring or a saddle. On Rua Áurea, besides the goldsmiths, the spare shops were to go to watchmakers. Some of the names came from everyday use or later. Rua da Prata was called Rua Bela da Rainha until 1910, and Rua dos Fanqueiros appears in the order as Rua Nova da Princesa. In 1910, a month after the Republic was proclaimed, streets with names tied to the monarchy were renamed. Hence a confusion that lives on: to everyone, Rua Áurea is still Rua do Ouro.