São Gonçalo Bridge

18th-century granite bridge over the Tâmega, the centrepiece of town

The three-arched granite bridge over the Tâmega is the heart of Amarante. The current span dates from 1790 — its predecessor was destroyed by the river in a flood in 1763 — and it is the natural starting point for a walk through town. The view downstream, framed by the balconied wooden houses leaning out from the riverbank, is the postcard image of northern Portugal.

The bridge marks the end of the centre's pedestrian zone and connects the old quarter on the north bank with the Igreja de São Gonçalo on the south. Cross it at sunset, when the river surface catches the light and the granite warms to gold.

things to do landmark
A story
The current bridge is the third on the spot — the first was attributed to São Gonçalo himself in the 13th century. In April 1809 a small Portuguese force under Francisco da Silveira held the bridge for two weeks against Marshal Soult's much larger French army, blowing up an arch and stopping Napoleon's advance into Portugal. The bridge was rebuilt by 1820 in the granite arches you cross today.