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Roman Bridge Chaves

Roman Bridge (Ponte Trajano), Chaves

The 140 metre-long Ponte Trajano (Trajan Bridge) in Chaves in the Trás-os-Montes region of north eastern Portugal dates from the reign of the Emperor Trajan (53-117) in the early second century AD. The Emperor Trajan was known as a great promoter of public works including the Trajan Forum and Trajan Column in Rome.

Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves
Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), seen from downstream, Chaves

History

The bridge over the River Tâmega is now pedestrianized and is one of the finest Roman bridges in Portugal, though it has undergone many restorations and repairs over the ages.

The bridge now has 12 arches (it previously had an estimated 18) and was once part of the Roman road from Braga to Astorga in Spain, when Chaves was known as Aquae Flaviae. There are milestones on the bridge with distances to the Roman settlements at Braga and Leon (Legio) in Spain.

Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
Padrão dos Povos (People's Standard), Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves
Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
Commemorative marker, Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), seen from downstream, Chaves

Two columns from the Roman period stand on the bridge and have inscriptions. The first column is known as the Padrão dos Povos (People's Standard), dates from 79 AD and is dedicated to the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus as well as other notables. The second column has a shorter inscription referring to the fact that the bridge was built by the local people and dedicated to Trajan.

On the eastern side of the river is the Baroque Igreja de Madalena (Igreja de S. João de Deus). This side of the river has a quieter, more rural feel of a village than the main town which is on the opposite bank.

Nearby

Walking along the banks of the River Tâmega on the main town side of the bridge in a north east direction will bring the visitor to the Museum of Contemporary Art Nadir Afonso.

Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
Padrão dos Povos (People's Standard), Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves
Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves.
View of the bridge showing the two Roman columns, Ponte de Trajano (Roman Bridge), Chaves

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