Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Viseu > Tabuaço > Tabuaço
Ponte do Fumo (Smoke Bridge) rises in a deep, isolated valley, crossing the Távora River. This location, of great scenic value, is situated near the municipality of Tabuaço, in the union of parishes of Távora and Pereiro. The surrounding landscape is rich in indigenous vegetation, with the presence of chestnut, oak, ash, and hazelnut trees, which provide a natural and serene environment. The bridge is located just before the confluence of the Távora River with the Quintã stream.
This ancient crossing point once played a fundamental role in connecting the former parish of Pereiro with the rest of the Tabuaço municipality, before the construction of modern roads.
Ponte do Fumo is an example of medieval architecture, with a probable origin dating back to the Roman era, integrated into a secondary road network. Its existence is documented as early as 1040, when it is referred to in a charter by King D. Fernando Magno to the town of Paredes da Beira, with the expression "in Tavara ad ponte de Fumo".
Built of granite, the bridge features a single perfect arch, with a subtly accentuated humpback profile. Its structure is made of well-dressed stonework, with carefully cut stone blocks. The deck, also covered with granite slabs, shows a slight incline that extends along the old road. It is possible to observe in the intrados of the arch the holes that would have served for the centering during its construction.
Ponte do Fumo is not just a stone structure with history; it is also the stage for ancient legends that enrich the local imagination. The most prominent of these popular narratives is that of the Moura of Ponte do Fumo.
It is said that the bridge was erected by the Moors in a single night, to serve as an escape route during the Christian pursuit. However, they are said to have left behind an enchanted moura, who resides in a nearby rock formation known as the Fraga da Moura (Moura's Crag). The legend describes this figure as a woman of unusual beauty from the waist up, but with the lower part of her body in the form of a serpent, sometimes seen singing in the distance near the crag. Local tales also refer to the existence of a whirlpool in the river at this point, which adds a touch of mystery to the natural surroundings of the bridge.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.0901421,-7.5141579
Coordinates DMS: 41°05'24.5"N 07°30'51.0"W
Weather Tabuaço
On-duty Pharmacy Tabuaço
