The remaining Portuguese pavers work tirelessly to preserve Lisbon's traditional cobblestone streets, but now the centuries-old craft is under threat, leaving many wondering about the future of one of the city's oldest features.
Jorge Duarte, 56, has been a paver since his twenties, and worries he won't be able to leave a legacy behind if Portugal's government doesn't increase the monthly 580 euro minimum wage paid to pavers. It's the only way to encourage more people to learn the craft, he said.
Made using tiny black and white stones, the ancient tradition, which dates back to the 15th century, is popular among locals and tourists alike.
"Lisbon is not a city of great monumentality so the cobblestone pavement... is the city's brand," Teresa Gouveia, a historian who works at a school dedicated to the craft, told Reuters. "It gives Lisbon its charm."
Lisbon's traditional-style pavement has also spread to other locations, and it has won a handful of international awards.
But even though the tradition is widely recognized, many fear it's facing a crisis, as increasingly fewer people choose it as a career. Gouveia said around 400 pavers worked in Lisbon in the 18th century and now there are only 10.