Old Quarry Bridge

Category: Civil Architecture > Bridge

District: Viana do Castelo > Melgaço > Assureira

Location

Situated in the locality of Assureira, in the municipality of Melgaço, the Ponte da Cava da Velha harmoniously integrates into the imposing scenery of the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Rising over the Laboreiro river, its location provides a natural and peaceful environment, just a few kilometres from the village of Castro Laboreiro, inviting contemplation of the mountain landscape.

A Millennial Legacy

With roots lost in time, the Ponte da Cava da Velha is a testament to Roman engineering, built around the 1st century AD. Throughout its long existence, this structure played a central role, establishing vital connections between communities and facilitating ancient routes. It was a fundamental crossing point, traversing the Laboreiro river and serving as a link for ancestral paths that connected various localities in the region.

Architecture of Two Eras

The architecture of the Ponte da Cava da Velha narrates its evolution through the centuries. The deck is shaped like a cavalete (sawhorse), with two inclined ramps that give it a unique silhouette. The bridge rests on two perfectly rounded arches, notably unequal in size. While the lower parts of the structure and the curvature of the arches reveal the robustness of Roman construction, with well-worked ashlar stones and cushioned voussoirs, the irregular paving of the deck and the simpler stone parapets denote the alterations made in the Middle Ages. This fusion of styles and eras makes it a remarkable example of built heritage.

Heritage and Landscape

Recognized as a National Monument since 1986, the Ponte da Cava da Velha transcends its original function, asserting itself as a valuable element of Portuguese heritage. Its presence in the heart of the Peneda-Gerês National Park is not just a feat of ancient engineering, but also a point of contemplation where human work perfectly merges with the grandeur of nature. It is a place that invites observation and photographic recording, allowing one to feel history in communion with the environment.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt