The Praça do Comércio (commerce square) was the centerpiece of the reconstruction that took place after the earthquake of 1755 had reduced Lisbon to rubble. Its main attraction is a monumental equestrian statue of king José I.Over the last centuries numerous processions, festivities, concerts and even executions have taken place here. The square has also been the scene of historic events such as the double assassination on February 1908, when king Carlos and Luis Filipe - the heir to the throne - were assassinated here. In 1974 thousands of people assembled on the square during the revolution that overthrew the dictatorial regime.The square is commonly known as the Terreiro do Paço (Palace Square), for the sixteenth-century Ribeira Palace that stood here until it was destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1755. The palace was one of the most impressive buildings in Portugal, decorated with many works of art and home to a large library containing more than 70,000 books.