Ponte Velha de São Pedro da Torre
Old Bridge of São Pedro da Torre Ponte Velha de São Pedro da Torre | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°59′16″N 8°40′07″W / 41.987698°N 8.668594°W |
| Locale |  Portugal, Valença, São Pedro da Torre |
| Official name | Ponte Velha de São Pedro da Torre |
| Heritage status | Property of Public Interest Imóvel de Interesse Público |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Granite |
| History | |
| Construction start | 13th century |
| Construction end | 14th century |
| Location | |
 | |
Ponte Velha de São Pedro da Torre is a bridge in the civil parish of São Pedro da Torre, municipality of Valença in the Portuguese district of Viana do Castelo.
History
[edit]During the Roman period, this area was part of the Lima to Minho axis, a roadway that connected Braga to the northwestern peninsula, and was a point of passage, if not terminal line (from conclusions of Ferreira de Almeida in 1987).[1][2] In the immediate vicinity, in the local of Chamosinhos, are vestiges of Romana structures, and specifically a millenarian marker.[1][2]
The bridge was re-constructed between the 13th and 14th century.[2][3] The double ramp, which was not entirely horizontal, had some interventions in order support the structure.[2][4] Although it maintained its semi-perfect Roman arch, the fact that the staves were "long and narrow" indicates that the bridge was reconstructed.[2][4] Medieval reforms during the time affected eastern territories, allowing more human migration and helping to support inter-regional commercial traffic, substantiating the idea that the bridge was reconstructed during the time.[2]
Meanwhile, other opinions point to its re-construction during the modern epoch.[1]
Architecture
[edit]The bridge is situated in an urban area, crossing the main river in the settlement of São Pedro da Torre, surrounded by a few buildings.[3] In the same settlement, almost 100 metres (330 ft) is another smaller bridge over the same river.[3]
The bridge maintains some of the characteristics attributable to the Roman period: which include the "Roman" arch and double ramp, its regular base and pavement, which is still largely Roman in nature, using large, homogeneous slabs and carefully placed.[2]
The platform is preceded by access ramps, and the platform constructed of Portuguese pavement forms a trestle that is almost imperceivable over a single arch.[3] Constructed of granite blocks/slabs, simple guardrails flank either side of the platform.[3] At the midpoint of the bridge is a socle with stone cross, where a wooden image of a crucified Christ is situated.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c Ferreira de Almeida (1987), p.165
- ^ a b c d e f g IGESPAR, ed. (2015), Ponte Velha (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR - Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico, retrieved 17 January 2016
- ^ a b c d e f Noé, Paula (1992), SIPA (ed.), Ponte Velha de São Pedro da Tore (IPA.00000448/PT011608120008) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 16 January 2016
- ^ a b Aníbal Soares Ribeiro (1998), p.194
Sources
[edit]- Araújo, José Rosa de (1962), Caminhos Velhos e Pontes de Viana a Ponte de Lima (in Portuguese), Viana do Castelo, Portugal
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Almeida, Carlos Alberto Ferreira de (1987), Alto Minho (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Rocha, J. Marques (1991), Valença (in Portuguese), Porto, Portugal
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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