Ponte da Cava da Velha, Melgaço, Portugal

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.

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User Reviews

Tristam MacDonald (2 years ago)
Spectacular mediaeval bridge in the middle of nature. Only 100 meters of easy walk from the nearby road. Water level varies wildly according to current rain/drought conditions. You can also hike all the way up to Castro Laboreiro from here, but be warned it’s a long and steep path

Eduarda Duarte (4 years ago)
Ponte da Cava Velha is surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

Jorge Dias (4 years ago)
Passa o tempo mas fica muita história.

Marco Bernardino (4 years ago)
Belo banho numa água pura e gelada.

Al Ykne (6 years ago)
Be there... you'll know!

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There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

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