{"id":9814,"date":"2022-02-04T17:02:29","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T17:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/dom-luis-i-porto\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T14:20:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T14:20:26","slug":"dom-luis-i-porto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/dom-luis-i-porto\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge in Porto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge (Lu\u00eds I Bridge) spans the Douro River between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia! Follow the guide! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 The Captain\u2019s tip<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\uddd0 Want to know more about Porto’s history?<\/strong> Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the city<\/a><\/mark>. It\u2019s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca4 Looking for an hotel in Porto?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in Porto? Advice & recommendations<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfdb Planning your trip to Porto?<\/strong> Be sure to check out Captain Ulysses’ complete article on what to see and do in the city: a Guide to Porto<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc76 Planning a family adventure to Porto?<\/strong> Discover all of the Captain\u2019s top tips in the article: Exploring Porto with the Kids: Family-Friendly Activities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Brief history of the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge in Porto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The “Bridge of the Boats”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge was built, another bridge spanned\nthe Douro between the historic district of Ribeira, in Porto, and the municipality\nof Vila Nova de Gaia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built in 1806, this first version of the bridge, nicknamed “Bridge of the Boats”,\nconsisted of 20 boats linked together, and which could be\nseparated to make way for boats sailing on the Douro River (just like\none of the earlier versions of the\nRialto Bridge in Venice). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bridge of\nBoats was unfortunately the scene of a tragedy in 1809 that would be forever remembered in Porto: over 4000 people\nindeed lost their lives trying to escape the French troops\nled by Marshal Soult during the second Napoleonic invasion of Portugal.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebuilt after the tragedy, the bridge was later\nreplaced by the Dona Maria II Bridge, a suspension bridge built in\n1843, and then again by the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge, which still stands today.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built between 1881 and 1886, the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge was designed\nby a Belgian engineer, Th\u00e9ophile Seyrig. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A disciple of Gustave Eiffel, Th\u00e9ophile Seyrig had also participated in the design of the Maria Pia Bridge (a railway bridge located upstream from the Dom Luis Bridge) in 1876-1877 alongside his mentor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge was inaugurated in 1886 by King Lu\u00eds I.<\/sup>\nof Portugal, after whom the bridge was named. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge seen from Vila Nova de Gaia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The architecture of the Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How not to be impressed by the metallic silhouette of\nthe Dom Lu\u00eds I Bridge? It is indisputably the most\nimpressive bridge in Porto. 395 meters long and 8 meters wide, it is\nover 45 meters high and weighs nearly 3045 tons! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its arch, characteristic of Gustave Eiffel’s style, is one\nof the largest steel arches in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dom Luis I Bridge comprises two levels: <\/p>\n\n\n\n