PONTE DOM LUIS I ER

This admirable double-deck arch bridge, inaugurated on October 31, 1886 after six years of work, was not designed by Gustave Eiffel, but by his disciple and associate Teófilo Seyrig. This is an essential work of the Porto panorama that does not go unnoticed. The Dom Luis ^I Bridge was built to replace a cable suspension bridge that was more than 20 years old, which was the successor to the 1806 Boat Bridge. Very similar to the Maria-Pia railway viaduct, which can be found a little further up the river, it spans the Douro at a height of more than 70 meters, connecting the old historical district of Ribeira with that of Vila Nova de Gaia, a true wine cellar of Portugal. During its construction, it was called "Luis^I Bridge" in the newspapers of the time. The tradition was not to mention the royal titles but to use the "little name" of the godfathers of the works of art to mark the proximity of the sovereigns to the people, as for example the Maria Pia Bridge (not Dona Maria Pia). It is said that since the king did not deign to attend the inauguration of the work dedicated to him, the people of Porto decided to mark their distance by keeping his title in the name, contrary to tradition. The bridge was inaugurated in two stages: upper deck in 1886 and lower deck in 1888. This superb work is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walking across the 395 meters of the upper deck of the bridge is quite an unforgettable visual experience, although not recommended for those who are prone to vertigo (then take the lower deck which is "only" 175 meters long). The easiest way to reach the second deck is to take the Dos Guindais funicular, which is located at the end of the bridge on the Ribeira side. Once on the other side, at a higher altitude, a cable car allows you to get back to the river level and, why not, to visit the wine cellars of Porto. For several years, the upper deck has been closed to cars. The subway, cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to use it. St. John's Day is also celebrated here in Porto: to end the festival in style, after many events and joyful festivities in the city and rabelos regattas, a gigantic fireworks display is fired from the bridge. If you are in the area at this time of the year, it goes without saying that this is the place to be: the beautiful setting and the sound and light show are unforgettable!