Ponte da Cava da Velha, Roman bridge in Castro Laboreiro e Lamas de Mouro, Portugal.
Ponte da Cava da Velha is a stone bridge featuring two granite arches of different sizes, with the larger arch considerably taller than the smaller one. It spans the River Laboreiro within the Peneda-Gerês Nature Park.
The bridge was built during the 1st century and formed a vital link in the Roman road network connecting multiple locations. It served the established routes linking Portela do Homem and Estrimo.
The bridge is also called Ponte Nova, a name that points to an earlier structure on the same spot, possibly the nearby Ponte de São Brás or Ponte da Assureira. It was recorded on 11 May 1758 by the priest Inácio Ribeiro Marques in the parish Memórias Paroquiais, and it has been classified as a National Monument since 1986.
The bridge sits about 110 meters east of the municipal road and is best reached on foot. Access through the surrounding parkland requires appropriate footwear and caution during wet conditions.
The upstream side of the central pier carries a triangular cutwater, while the downstream side has a rectangular buttress; the Portuguese sources describe the two differently. The deck is about 3 metres wide and clears a total span of over 20 metres. Look for the holes at the base of the arches, cut to hold the wooden centring used during construction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,687 contributors worldwide.