Luiz I Bridge World Heritage Site| Dona Maria Pia Bridge

The outstanding monuments of the Industrial Revolution period in Oporto are the two wrought-iron bridges that cross the River Douro. Both provide evidence of international co-operation in civil engineering projects in the 19th century.

The Dona Maria Pia bridge of 1877 was designed by Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) and its 344 m long deck carried the railway from Campanha station to Gaia 60 m above the water until the line was re-routed in the 1990s.

The Luiz I bridge of 1886, 500 m downstream (photo), designed by Eiffel’s pupil and partner, Theophile Seyrig (1843-1923), has two decks with two spans of 392 m and 174 m, the uppermost of which now carries Metro tracks. It was constructed by the Belgian company, Societe Willbroeck of Brussels, and replaced a suspension bridge of 1843 of which two granite columns remain on the right bank of the river.

Luiz I Bridge World Heritage Site| Dona Maria Pia Bridge
The Porto Bridges
Information: Tourist Office Rua Clube des Fenianos 25
4000-172 Porto
Portugal
+351 (0) 222 - 060412
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