Ponte da Cava da Velha

The Bridge of Cava da Velha (Ponte da Cava da Velha) is a Roman bridge, situated in the civil parish of Castro Laboreiro e Lamas de Mouro, in the municipality of Melgaço. The name Ponte Nova indicates the existence of another structure constructed in the same local (or nearby) at one time anteceding the current bridge. This may actually be the nearby Ponte de São Brás or Ponta da Assureira.

The bridge linked the Roman road to Espanha. The bridge was largely constructed in the 1st century, but does not appear in the two most comprehensive lists of Roman bridges. During the Middle Ages, the bridge was reconstructed to take on its current form.

The bridge is situated in an isolated, rural area within the Nature Park of Peneda do Gerês. A bucolic location links riverbank between two Roman-era pavements, that is located 200 metres from the Bridge of Assureira and Chapel of São Brás. The ramp arches are supported on the granite margins.

The structure, in irregular stone, has supported by worked ashlar with joints filled by smaller stones horizontally. Between the arches are prismatic starling upstream, and rectangular buttresses downstream. On the bottom of the arches are holes to fit the frame. The pavement is formed by large irregular slabs, protected by stone slab guards.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Castro Laboreiro, Melgaço, Portugal

Details

Founded: 1st century AD
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Portugal