Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ponte de Lima
POP 2800 / ELEV 175M
This photogenic town by the sweet and mellow Rio Lima springs to life on weekends,
when Portuguese tourists descend in droves, and every other Monday, when a vast market
spreads along the riverbank. All the action happens within sight of Portugal's finest medi-
eval bridge. Even if you can't make the market, Ponte de Lima's small, historic centre,
dotted with cafes and vast riverside gardens and greenways, is well worth visiting. Even
the outskirts are romantic: vineyards tumble to bustling avenues, and at sunset swallows
take flight, singing and diving until night finally falls.
When a Roman regiment first passed through here, soldiers were convinced that the Rio
Lima was Lethe itself - the mythical 'river of oblivion'. Alas, no such luck. Decimus
Junius Brutus forced his men to plunge ahead, but they still remembered all their sins
upon reaching the far side. The impressive Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge) - part of the
Roman road from Braga to Astorga in Spain, and the town's namesake - supposedly
marks their crossing. Though largely rebuilt in medieval times, it still contains traces of its
Roman antecedent.
Sights
Ponte Romana
The city's pièce de résistance, this elegant 31-arched bridge across the Rio Lima is now
limited to foot traffic. Most of it dates from the 14th century, though the segment on the
north bank by the village of
Arcozelo
is bona fide Roman.
Largo de Camões
, with a fountain
resembling a giant bonbon dish, makes a fine spot to watch the sun set over the bridge.
LANDMARK
Town Walls & Towers
Two crenulated towers (part of the fortifications made in the 14th century) face the river at
the end of Rua Cardeal Saraiva. The
Torre da Cadeia Velha
(Old Prison Tower;
LANDMARK
9.30am-12.30pm &
2-6pm)
now houses temporary art exhibitions and the
turismo
.
Fragments of the walls survive behind and between this and the other tower, the
Torre de
São Paulo
. Note the somewhat bizarre
azulejo
image on its front wall, entitled Cabras são
