Plan a trip to Ponte De Lima

Ponte de Lima, situated in the serene Lima Valley on the Lima River, is one of the most charming and picturesque cities in northern Portugal – the perfect destination for a day excursion. It is also among the oldest and most historic of Portugal’s villages, with beautiful baroque and neo-classical homes, religious buildings, delightful squares, and its namesake historic bridge. Ponte de Lima is home to the popular Green Wine (Vinho Verde), as well.

Positioned on the original Roman road which connected the two important cities of Tui and Braga, Ponte de Lima was a center of medieval trade and commerce. It had been heavily fortified during medieval times, though little remains of the original battlements.

The town’s icon is its Gothic style stone bridge, the Ponte Romano, which crosses the Lima River. It is formed by two bridges- one originally built by the Romans in the 1st century during the reign of the Emperor Augustus and the other, a 14th century medieval structure, which was further modified in the 15th century. The medieval construction also included the city walls and towers. At the time, it was the only crossing on the pilgrimage route from Braga to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The beautiful Church of Santo Antonio da Torre Velha, dating back to the 18th century, is situated on the northern bank of the bridge. Its façade is covered with Azulejo tiles, and the church gardens are lovely. 

The Igreja Matriz parish church is located in the old town. Dating back to the mid 15th century, with additions and modifications made in later centuries, the church is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Neoclassical styles. The old town’s toy museum is another highlight with its collection of toys from the 19th century through the present.  

Ponte de Lima is also known for its market, the largest market in Portugal with origins in medieval times, which is held every other Monday on the south bank of the river. Hundreds of merchants gather, selling fresh produce, breads, cheeses, clothing, shoes, and household goods.

As the center of a rich agricultural area, Ponte de Lima is famous for the Vinho Verde produced from locally grown grapes. It is usually a white wine, mainly dry with a touch of fizz.

The town hosts the International Gardening Festival throughout the summer months. Gardening teams from around the world submit plans, and the top 12 designs are selected and invited to plant their creations. Each year there is a different theme – for 2023, the theme is "gardens and climate change."

The Teira Novas, the jolly town festival, takes place annually in September and includes a fair, costumes, fireworks, and wind instrument competitions. Another annual event in Ponte de Lima is the Vaca Das Cordas. The celebration, which takes place on the eve of the Corpus Christi feast, attracts visitors from all over Portugal and Spain, and is an unusual tradition involving a bull circling the Igreja Matriz three times, accompanied by townspeople, music, and festivities.

Don’t miss Ponte de Lima- its charming combination of magnificent gardens, cycling routes, kayak competitions, cuisine, history, and folk celebrations make it a delightful destination!