Following the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the city was rebuilt under the instructions of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal. The reconstruction included the development of a park, oriented south-east to north-west, known as the "Passeio Público". The park's borders rapidly became a popular location for the elite to build their homes and, over time, it was considered necessary for a road to be built through the park. The Avenida da Liberdade was completed in 1886.