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Arrábida Bridge

The Arrábida Bridge crosses the Douro between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia and was designed by the engineer Edgar Cardoso. Work began in May 1957 and it opened on 22 June 1963. It is a reinforced concrete arch bridge: the main arch spans 270 metres, the deck is about 493 metres long and carries six vehicle lanes and two pavements for pedestrians. When it was finished, that span was the largest in the world among concrete arches. Its highest point is about 70 metres above the river. Since 2016 there has been a guided climb that takes you along the arch with a harness and safety equipment to the top, about 65 metres above the water, and you come down by 262 steps. From the top you can take in the mouth of the Douro to the west and, to the east, the city's other bridges, the Gaia wine lodges and the Porto riverfront.

Things to do at Arrábida Bridge: 3 missions

• Climb the bridge arch with a guide and harnessBook the Porto Bridge Climb and ascend the arch to the top, about 65 metres above the Douro. From up there, pick out the Porto riverfront and the Gaia wine lodges.
• Admire the arch from the bank of the DouroStand on the riverfront, beside the water, and look at the 270-metre concrete arch spanning from one bank to the other. Notice the piers that support the deck on the arch.
• Walk across the bridge on the pedestrian pavementWalk along one of the two pedestrian pavements from one side of the Douro to the other and look at the river and both banks from the deck.

Near Arrábida Bridge

Source: Web oficial - Porto Bridge Climb