Sodré is the name of a 15th-century family with businesses in this neighborhood, which has always been linked to the maritime trade. Over time, the entire area, from the waterfront to the two blocks north of it, became known as "Cais do Sodré," or “Sodré’s Wharf”.
Today, it’s a terminal of the ferries that link Lisbon to Cacilhas across the river, and is also a train and metro station, as well as a major bus stop. Across the station is Praça Duque da Terceira, a square named after the Duke of Terceira, whose bronze statue stands at the center.