Ponte Maria Pia - Porto, Portugal
Posted by: 
razalas
N 41° 08.425 W 008° 35.784
29T E 533871 N 4554423
he Maria Pia bridge (Ponte Maria Pia), is a railway bridge built in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel in Porto, Portugal.
Waymark Code: WMAXZZ
Location: Porto, Portugal
Date Posted: 03/09/2011
Views: 10
The Place:
Built of wrought iron, its two-hinged crescent arch used to carry the railway, before a modern bridge was constructed in 1991, to Lisbon for 353m across the River Douro at a height of 60m.
Eiffel's design was the least expensive of eight entries into an 1875 competition, being 31% less than the next lowest priced. The bridge was built to avoid a 12 km detour, and started on 5 January 1876 and completed on 4 November 1877. At that time its span of 160m was the longest arch bridge in the world, the previous record holder, at 156m, being the Eads Bridge over the Mississippi at St Louis. The bridge was opened by the king of Portugal and named after his queen Maria Pia.
The bridge is classified as National Heritage
The Name:
Maria Pia of Savoy (14 February 1847 - 5 July 1911) was a Portuguese Queen consort, spouse of King Luís I of Portugal. On the day of her baptism, Pope Pius IX, her godfather, gave her a Golden Rose. Maria Pia was married to Luís I of Portugal on the 6 October 1862 in Lisbon.
Year it was dedicated: 1877
Location of Coordinates: Next to the bridge pillar.
Type of place/structure you are waymarking: Bridge
Related Web address (if available): Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:- Please post a comment and distinct photo.
- A "visited" only remark will be deleted.
- A "visited" remark by the 'Waymark Owner' at the time of posting is not appreciated and won't be accepted. If visiting at another time a "Visit" would be acceptable.