Commanding the north side of Rossio Square with its six-columned neoclassical portico, the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II has been one of Lisbon's cultural anchors since it opened in 1846. Named after Queen Maria II, who championed Portuguese theatre, the building was designed by the Italian architect Fortunato Lodi on the site of the old Palace of the Inquisition — a pleasing bit of historical irony. A devastating fire gutted the interior in 1964, and the rebuilt auditorium mixes mid-century functionalism with the restored facade. The company stages a solid mix of Portuguese classics and contemporary work. Even if you skip a show, the building's presence gives Rossio much of its civic grandeur.