The Ponte Velha is the old bridge of Silves, crossing the Arade at the foot of the historic town. It is often called the Roman bridge, a name drawn from its rounded arches and from the town's Roman past, although the structure standing today is medieval rather than Roman.
The bridge is built from grés de Silves, the red sandstone seen throughout the town, and it carries its deck on five rounded arches separated by pointed cutwaters that divide the flow of the river. It measures roughly seventy-six metres in length, and a small belvedere allows walkers to pause over the water.
For centuries the Ponte Velha carried the main road into Silves. Since a modern bridge was built nearby in the twentieth century, the old crossing has been given over to pedestrians, and it now forms a quiet link between the riverside and the streets of the old town. Some of its building techniques echo those of the cathedral, a reminder that the two were raised in the same medieval centuries.
Destacados
- Medieval bridge built of red Silves sandstone
- Five rounded arches with pointed cutwaters over the Arade
- Traditionally, if inaccurately, known as the Roman bridge
- A small belvedere for pausing over the river
- Pedestrian crossing linking the riverside to the old town
History & context
Despite its popular name, the Ponte Velha is not Roman. Historical records, its architecture and the masons' marks on its stone point to a construction in the mid-fourteenth century. The first written reference to a bridge at Silves dates from 1439, and documents show the structure still being worked on in 1459 and completed by 1473. It was restored in the seventeenth century without losing its medieval form, and after a modern bridge opened nearby in the twentieth century it became a pedestrian crossing, later classified as a Monument of Public Interest.
🗓️ Mejor época para visitar
Early morning or late afternoon, when low light catches the red sandstone and the river. The bridge is a favourite spot for photographs of the castle beyond.
⏱️ Duración
10–15 minutes
♿ Accesibilidad
Partial. The bridge deck is reached fairly easily from the south bank, though the surface is old and uneven in places.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is the Ponte Velha of Silves really Roman?
No. Despite the name, records and architecture date it to the mid-fourteenth century, with completion confirmed by 1473.
Can the bridge be walked across?
Yes, the Ponte Velha is a pedestrian bridge and is freely crossed on foot, connecting the riverside to the old town.
Is there a fee to visit the bridge?
No, the bridge is a public structure and is open at all hours without charge.