Reading Lisbon Through Time: Morphological Analysis and Urban Stratification

The research conducted as part of the thesis at the ArCoD Department (Polytechnic of Bari) focuses on Lisbon, with particular attention to urban morphology and the historical and procedural articulation of its transformations over time. The analysis, based on documentary and archaeological sources, concentrated on identifying traces of the Phoenician-Punic settlement that developed in the area of the current castle and on the subsequent changes introduced with the planning of the Roman settlement known as Olisipo The reconstruction of the Roman grid, achieved through the identification of orthogonal, diagonal, and curvilinear alignments according to Caniggia’s method, revealed evidence of a module corresponding to the actus, allowing a hypothesis on the original fabric composed of domus, now largely concealed beneath later transformations. Within the city walls, the planned grids show variations in orientation due to the morphology of the Alfama hill, while in the external area near the Roman wall circuit, an elliptical profile attributable to the amphitheater can be identified, along with regular patterns likely related to the horrea. The later phases, mainly from the Arab and medieval periods, exhibit a spontaneous organization of buildings and streets shaped by contour lines and steep slopes. Special attention has also been given to interpreting the planned Bairro district, documenting its structure, construction phases, and spatial relationships. The study, based on a critical reading of urban stratifications and historical traces, aims to deepen the understanding of Lisbon’s urban evolution, emphasizing the interaction between spontaneous and planned settlements still visible in its current morphology.