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 local name Ponte dos Mouros reflects the medieval presence of Moorish communities in the Iberian Peninsula. This naming choice reveals how different peoples have left their mark on the landscape.
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 structure includes prismatic starling formations upstream between its arches and rectangular buttresses downstream for support. These engineering features reveal Roman sophistication in managing river forces.
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