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The Roman Bridge of Vila Formosa (''Ponte de Vila Formosa'') crosses the Seda stream, close to the village of Seda, in the municipality of
The bridge, which is believed to have been constructed at the end of the 1st century CE, was classified as a National Monument on 16 June 1910. Cleaning and restoration work was carried out between 1932 and 1934 and in 1936 a new road surface was added, in imitation of old Roman roads. Further repairs were carried out in 1939, 1963, 1980 and 2000. Until recently, the bridge was in use for commercial traffic, but it has now been replaced by a new road and bridge to its north.
Alter do Chão
Alter do Chão () is a municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ...
, in the Portalegre District
Portalegre District ( pt, Distrito de Portalegre ) is located in the east of Portugal. The district capital is the city of Portalegre.
As of 2021, it is the least populous district of Portugal.
Municipalities
The district is composed of 15 mu ...
of Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
. It dates back to the first century CE.Description
The bridge was part of a Roman road that connectedLisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
to Mérida in Spain. It is approximately 116.50 metres long, 8.40 metres high and 6.70 metres wide. Stone pillars support six 8.95 metre-wide arches, each with 33 voussoir
A voussoir () is a wedge-shaped element, typically a stone, which is used in building an arch or vault.
Although each unit in an arch or vault is a voussoir, two units are of distinct functional importance: the keystone and the springer. The ...
s. The bridge was constructed with portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...
-shaped eyeholes between the arches to prevent the structure from collapsing during floods, a common practice for Roman bridges. It was decorated with gargoyle
In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls ...
s.
The bridge, which is believed to have been constructed at the end of the 1st century CE, was classified as a National Monument on 16 June 1910. Cleaning and restoration work was carried out between 1932 and 1934 and in 1936 a new road surface was added, in imitation of old Roman roads. Further repairs were carried out in 1939, 1963, 1980 and 2000. Until recently, the bridge was in use for commercial traffic, but it has now been replaced by a new road and bridge to its north. See also
*List of Roman bridges
This is a list of Roman bridges. The Romans were the world's first major bridge builders. The following list constitutes an attempt to list all known surviving remains of Roman bridges.
A Roman bridge in the sense of this article includes an ...
* List of bridges in Portugal
This list of bridges in Portugal lists bridges of particular historical, scenic, architectural or engineering interest. Road and railway bridges, viaducts, aqueducts and footbridges are included.
Historical and architectural interest bridges
...
References
{{reflist Bridges in Portugal Bridges in Portalegre District Vila Formosa Tourist attractions in Portalegre District