Roman Bridge (Chaves)

Roman Bridge
File:Ponte romana Chaves 01.jpg Roman Bridge at Chaves
Carries	Road Astorga-Braga
Crosses	Tâmega
Locale	Chaves, Portugal
Characteristics
Design	Arch bridge
Material	Stone
Total length	140 m
Longest span	8.9 m
Number of spans	12 (visible)
History
Opened	Probably reign of Domitian (81–96 AD)
Roman Bridge

The Roman Bridge at Chaves, also known as Trajano bridge as a reference to Trajan, is an ancient bridge located in the north of Portugal in the town of the same name. The bridge which is in relatively good shape unites the two most important parishes in the town. The bridge is 140 meters long, high and has 12 visible arches. Although the bridge spanning the Minho in Ourense is longer and higher, this example of Roman architecture is even today a masterpiece of construction.

Two of the columns of the original bridge, built by the Emperor Trajan, still stand. They are stout cylindrical columns with details of the honors bestowed by the emperor on local governors or generals clearly legible on them. They were also milestones indicating distances to the important settlements of Astorga in Spanish León and Bracara Augusta, Braga, in Portugal.

History and construction

The bridge was built between the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century AD. Little is known about the exact dates of the beginning or conclusion of construction. However, it is known that slaves captured from the peoples inhabiting the region worked on the bridge. This appears to be written on one of the columns placed in the middle of the bridge. These columns were not here originally. One of them mentions the construction of the bridge, referring to the reign of the emperor Trajan; the other was taken from the Roman road leading up to the bridge. Before the building of the bridge the crossing was made by a road raised above the bed of the river, which only allowed the river to be crossed in summer.

Allowing the river to be crossed at any time of the year, the bridge was an important factor of development for the town, but it was also necessary and useful for the Pax Romana: here there were hot springs visited by a lot of people; in the region there were mines with precious metals, whose product was taken to Rome; across the bridge passed the important Roman road of Braga to Astorga, with a lot of traffic; and lastly here was quartered a numerous detachment of legionnaires of the Roman army.

The bridge has suffered many modifications, for restoration and conservation. The fortified tower that was built at the entrance was long ago demolished and the stone sides were substituted by iron. The span was widened and footpaths put in. The floor, originally covered by large granite blocks, now is covered by paving stones.

The bridge today

File:Ponte de Trajano noite- Chaves.jpg

The bridge at night

A park has been built along the north right bank, where the camping site used to be, and a small dam has been built south of the bridge to regulate the water. A sewage treatment plant has finally diverted the town’s sewage from the river and fish have returned.

On the south side of the bridge there is a well-kept municipal garden with a bandstand, where the town holds an annual fair of handicrafts and periodically has fairs or musical presentations. There is a small playground and a bandstand in the middle, which is rarely used. There is a project to connect this park to the other side of the river by building a footbridge, but so far it is on the drawing table only. The land for the garden was donated by one of Chaves’ richest native sons, Cândido Pinto Souto Maior, whose house still stands on the corner across from the park. Souto Maior was a banker who became very rich in Brazil and once owned most of the surrounding land in Madalena. His bust can be seen in the square in the park.

See also

• List of Roman bridges
• Roman architecture
• Roman engineering

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• Roman Bridge (Chaves) at Structurae