Roman Bridge of Chaves, Roman bridge in Chaves, Portugal.
Ponte de Trajano is a Roman stone bridge spanning the Tâmega River with twelve visible granite arches and six additional arches hidden beneath riverbank structures. The structure extends roughly 150 meters and forms a solid crossing over the river.
Construction began in the late first century under Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 104 CE during Emperor Trajan's reign. The bridge connected the major Roman cities of Bracara Augusta and Asturica.
Two Latin columns on the bridge honor emperors and the communities that built it, showing how important this structure was to ancient local societies. These inscriptions remain visible reminders of shared effort across different regions.
The bridge functions as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing, kept free from vehicle traffic for safe passage. Visitors can cross at any time and examine the Roman architecture without disruption from traffic.
A third Roman column discovered in the riverbed in 1980 displays names of ancient cities from the Bracaran convention. This artifact now rests in the Flaviense Museum and reveals the regional connections that existed during construction.
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