Portugal is a small country, but old and full of history. Larger cities and some remote villages in the far reaches of the country hide true architectural jewels that have served communities for centuries. I'm talking about bridges. From north to south of the country there are hundreds of bridges to discover, from the simplest and rustic to the most modern and elaborate.
The criterion for choosing, after all there are so many, is the impact that these bridges had on me. Of course, there are the most famous ones, but some have been built since ancient times and are less known. Discover my six favorite bridges in Portugal.
25th of April Bridge – Lisbon
One of the best-known bridges in Portugal, the bridge looks like the golden gate, from United States. It connects the capital Lisbon to the south bank, it is just over 2.5 km long and cars pass through it. Thousands of people cross the bridge every day, which is just over half a century old.
D. Luis I Bridge – Porto
It unites the northern cities of Vila Nova de Gaia and the city of Porto. Built in 1881, the bridge was designed by a pupil of Gustave Eiffel. Quite short, just over 385 meters long, there are cars and the subway and it is also pedestrianized.
Vasco da Gama Bridge – Lisbon
Until mid-2018 it was the longest bridge in Europe, just over 16 km long. It crosses the Tagus River and connects Lisbon to the city of Montijo and is one of the options for those who want to go to the south of the country, be it Setúbal, Alentejo or Algarve.
São Gonçalo Bridge – Amarante
This one is old: it dates back to 1250, but it had to be rebuilt in 1763 because of a flood that devastated the north of the country. Located in the city of Amarante, in the Porto District, it crosses the Tâmega River.
Cavada Velha Bridge – Castro Laboreiro
This bridge, located in the small village of Castro Laboreiro – within the Peneda-Gerês National Park, far north of Portugal and close to Spain – is really old. It is Roman, dates back to the 1st century and crosses the river that gives the town its name. All made of granite, it is small in size but robust: it is 10.5 meters long and has a maximum height of seven meters.
Trajan's Bridge – Chaves
Another bridge that crosses the Tâmega River and in the north of the country, the Chaves bridge, as it is better known, is just over 150 meters long and is old. It also dates back to the 1st century and is therefore Roman.
