When it was not yet known that the streets would be taken over by cars (they had not yet been invented), when it was not even possible to imagine what traffic lights would be and when there were still no traffic rules, Lisbon was already thinking about organizing its intense traffic… carriages and horses. We are talking about more than three centuries ago.
The Portuguese capital still has the oldest traffic sign in the city, dating back more than 330 years, which can still be found on Rua do Salvador, in Alfama, one of the most cool of Europe, with very old streets and houses, which you should certainly visit when you come to Portugal.
The traffic sign in question is a sign from the end of the 17th century, installed on this street by order of King D. Pedro II, which says the following: “Year 1686. His Majesty orders that coaches, carriages and litters coming from Ordinance of Salvador retreat to the same part”.
Translating it into current language, it would be more or less that the sign indicated that whoever was going down had to give way to the carts (and the like) that were going up. This way, fights and duels, frequent at the time, which even caused injuries and deaths, were avoided.
All of this because in that narrow street there was a “misaligned” building that further strangled the passage. Now, space remains reduced, but there are no reports of disagreements. And, if they appear, there will be a signal to call drivers to order.