Named after the medieval bridge that spans its slow-flowing river, Ponte de Lima is a beautifully preserved town in northern Portugal. It was founded in the 12th century on the site of an ancient Roman settlement and is an important stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Things to do in Ponte de Lima
In the heart of town is the Paço do Marquês, a former palace that houses a museum dedicated to the area’s military past. A short stroll away are the Torre de Cadeia Velha and Torre de Sao Paulo, two imposing towers that are all that remain of the town’s centuries-old walls. Nearby is the Igreja Matriz Ponte de Lima, a Mannerist-style church with beautiful carvings.
Don’t miss the Ponte Medieval, an arched stone bridge that spans the Lima River. It was originally established by the Romans before being reconstructed in the Middle Ages as the only crossing along the pilgrimage route between Braga and Santiago de Compostela. The bridge is best admired along the riverside Passeio Ribeirinho-Ecovias, which features an impressive sculpture of a Roman on horseback.
On the west bank of the Lima River is the Museu do Brinquedo Português, which showcases vintage toys dating from the 19th century. On the first floor, you can learn about the manufacturing techniques and materials used in times gone by, as well as the location of some of Portugal’s toy factories. Among the toys on display are wooden beach buckets, paper-mâche dolls and tin rattles.
Getting around Ponte de Lima
Ponte de Lima is around 30 minutes’ drive from Viana do Castelo and 45 minutes from Vigo Airport, which has flights to destinations across Spain. Regular buses connect to Ponte de Lima and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.