"Tour Guide for a Day"

Ponte de Lima:

OPEN

Old in age, young in spirit.

Come and Visit Ponte de Lima: Discover the Oldest Town

Congratulations! Now you know Portugal's oldest village better. Come back anytime!

Tour Guide: Joana Pereira

Let's meet the mother of our first king

"Dona Teresa" Statue

• D. Afonso Henriques mother.
• She gave the village its first official charter.
• Date: 4th March 1125.

Award-winning Nature

International Garden Festival(Festival Internacional de Jardins):

• It won an international award in 2013.

• Every year, there are 12 new creative gardens to explore with many countries artists ideas.
• From the end of May until the end of October.

Sacred Traditions (1)

Mother Church:

• A 14th-century church.

• Romanesque and Gothic styles.
• It has a beautiful circular "rose window".

The Legend of Forgetfulness

The Roman and Medieval Bridge(Ponte Romana e Medieval):

• One part is originally Roman and the other part was reconstructed in medieval times.
• Romans called the Lima River "Lethes".
• They believed that crossing it would erase all their memories.

Home of Champions

Clube Náutico (The Nautical Club):

• Many Olympic athletes and world champions train right here.
• It is the venue for many major international competitions.
• There you can practice canoeing, kayaking, and also rent equipment to do these and other water sports.

Did you complete the visit?

Sacred Traditions (2)

"Vaca das Cordas" Statue:

• Represents the most famous local festival in June.
• Started because a bull had to be led around the church to "cleanse" it before a festival.
• Called "of the ropes" because the bull is controlled by long ropes.

History inside a Palace

Military History Centre:

• Is located in the old Paço do Marquês.

• Discover how soldiers protected our historic walls.
• Real uniforms and equipment.

A Tower with many lives

Torre da Cadeia Velha (The Old Prison Tower):

• First: defensive tower; Then: prison; Now: Tourism Office.
• You can still see iron bars on the windows.
• Built in the 14th century during the reign of King D. Pedro I.

The Living Square

Largo de Camões:

• Most famous square in town.
• The fountain was built in 1603 to give clean water to the people.
• Is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art.

The Guardians of the Bridge

Igreja de Santo António da Torre Velha:

• Famous for its tall, elegant white tower from the 19th century.
• It was a support point for those travelling to Santiago.

Capela do Anjo da Guarda:

• Tiny stone chapel from the 13th century.
• Built very close to the river to "protect" the bridge entrance.

The Green Tunnel

Avenida dos Plátanos (Platanus Avenue):

• These trees were planted in 1901. They are more than 120 years old!
• The branches are so big that they touch each other, creating a natural tunnel that protects us from the sun.

• The perfect place for a walk, feeling the breeze from the Lima River.