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Historical Context Origin of the name: The town of Ponte de Lima, the oldest in Portugal, derives its name from the bridge that crosses it. Way of St. James: The bridge is an important crossing point on the Portuguese Way of St. James. Legend: The legend of the Lima River, which runs under the bridge, tells that the Romans believed it to be the river of forgetfulness, which would have given rise to the myth that people who crossed it would forget their past lives.

The bridge that gives the Lima Bridge its name is actually a combination of two structures: a Roman section, built in the 1st century, and a medieval section, expanded in the 14th century. It crosses the Lima River and is one of the town's most emblematic monuments. Characteristics of the bridge Roman section: The remaining Roman section consists of five arches, and its construction is linked to the military road that connected the cities of Braga and Astorga. Medieval section: The medieval portion of the bridge is larger and was built to connect to the Roman section, extending the structure over the river. Material: The bridge is built of granite, using the Roman technique of "quadratum" and "vittatum" masonry.

A city bathed by the Lima River, with walking trails in the area and good food.👍🥾🇵🇹

The main attraction of the town.

Ponte de Lima - Portugal's oldest town 🏠

spectacular area for walking

The ex-libris of Ponte de Lima, which together with the river that bathes the town, gave the town its name, is its bridge. In reality, it is a group formed by two bridges: a larger medieval section, which begins on the left bank and extends to the Church of Santo António da Torre Velha and also passes through it in two arches. Then, the remaining section of the Roman bridge. There are only five arches from the large arch that is on a dry bed. If you go down you will also see the foundations of the Old Tower, perhaps the first of the medieval defensive system. The Roman bridge probably dates back to the 1st century, since it was at that time that the route of one of the military roads of the former "Conventus Bracaraugustanus", which connected Braga to Astorga, was opened, in this case Via XIX, ordered to be opened by the Emperor Augustus. As regards the medieval part, although we can go back in time, at least to the reigns of D. Pedro I and D. Fernando, due to a direct connection to the construction of the walls and towers that fortified the town, a work completed in 1370 , or even D. Dinis, taking into account documentation that mentions a bridge, which could also, at that time, be made of wood, we know of its existence during the reign of D. Manuel I, more precisely in 1504, because this monarch had new paving was ordered and merlons were installed to decorate the bridge, as they were no longer justified as a defensive and military option.

The town is dominated by watchtowers, built in the fourteenth century, which, together with the whitewashed houses, make it an attractive town. Some women still go to the river to wash their clothes and hang them on the banks of the river to dry. In addition to the bridge, there are many beautiful palaces and country houses in the city and the surrounding area