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Ponte de Lima is a market town on the south bank of the Lima River facing a magnificent Roman bridge with low arches. Its setting, together with a laid-back atmosphere makes it one of the loveliest small towns in Portugal.

Alegoria às Feiras Novas e ao Folclore by Salvador Vieira 2009

In September, the 'New Fairs' (Feiras Novas) dating from the 12th Century are held. This is a local festival dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows but full of merrymaking, singing, folk dancing, colourful processions and the market. 

Memórias do Campo by Salvador Vieira 2010

Memórias do Campo by Salvador Vieira 2010

Largo de Camões, with cafés, restaurants and a 16th century fountain

The former pillory is supposed to draw back to the 16th century and was erected on the strand, in front of the "Torre de S. Paulo".

In the early 19th century, the coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve were added onto it. Compulsively demolished in the end of the liberal struggles, it was rebuilt during the Estado Novo in front of the Town Hall, using some fragments from the former monument

Igreja Matriz (Cathedral)

The Parish Church (Igreja Matriz) 

Built under orders given by King D. Joao in 1425 who also ordered the government to provide the finance. It was restored and enlarged during the reigns of King Duarte and King Alfonso VI. 

The Parish

Church (Igreja Matriz)

Azulejo na Igreja Matriz de Ponte de Lima

Largo do Mercado Igreja Matriz

Igreja da Santa Casa da

Misericordia

This church is from an

institution of Mercy that is

known in Portugal as

Holy House of Mercy (Santa

Casa da Misericórdia).

The actual church was built in the 17th and 18th centuries, being altered later by the

development of the village and the new streets

Igreja da Misericordia

Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco

Museum of Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco

Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco

The Vaca das Cordas ("Cow of the Ropes") festival that takes place in early June is one of Iberia's many bovine-related traditions dating from pre-Christian times with origins in ancient Egyptian cults brought to the Iberian peninsula by the Phoenicians. According to Egyptian mythology, Jupiter kidnapped his beloved Io and when repelled by her mother, he turned her into a cow and commanded a bumblebee to repeatedly sting her. As a result, Io fled to Egypt where she regained her human form and married the god Osiris. The Egyptians then erected altars to Isis in her honor in the image of a cow, a symbol that became a goddess of fertility in Egypt and later in Portugal. It is believed that Ponte de Lima's parish church was built over such a temple, when the town's Christian citizens, in order to show their renunciation of idols, dragged their old bovine image around town until it broke into pieces. Since then, a live bull has been used. In the annual festival, a bull tied by the horns is lead three times around the church as it's jabbed with goads in reference to the mythical bee. Following this, mimicking Io's flight to Egypt, the animal charges through the town's streets before ending up at the beach. On the following day, there is a serene Christian procession, when the streets are covered with flowers.

On Rua Cardeal Saraiva stands a bronze statue of a bull, commemorating Vaca Das Cordas.

Vaca Das Cordas is a centuries old tradition that takes place on the day before Corpus Christi.

A bull is tied to the iron grill of the bell tower window at Parish Church before then running around the building three times. The tradition still happens today and after running the three laps around Parish Church, the bull is led through the streets to Largo de Camoes, the main square, and then onto the sand riverbank.

Camara municipal (Paços do Concelho )

Paços do Concelho e Pelourinho

Camara municipal (Paços do Concelho )

Estátua de Conde de Aurora

(1896-1969)

Azulejos with the story about the Roman general

and his first crossing of the

River Lima

Torre da Cadeia Velha could be translated as Tower of the Old Jailhouse; it is also known as Torre da Porta Nova - Tower of the New Door. The actual tower comes from the refurbishment made to the old walls and existing tower then (that date from the 14th century and that surrounded the village with defensive purposes).

That refurbishment was concluded in 1511 and had the purpose to install a Jailhouse in this village - therefore, the name given to the tower. In the late 19th century a door was "opened" in the tower, and this explains why the tower is also known as the Tower of the New Door.

Capela do Anjo da Guarda

This chapel - Chapel of the Guardian Angel - dates from the 13th century and was refurbished in the 18th century after it was severely damaged by the river floods. It shows details of both Romanesque and Gothic styles. I find its shape particularly curious as a kind of shelter - in this chapel you may find an image of St Miguel.

Capela do Anjo da Guarda - image of St Miguel

Jardim Romano

Text: InternetPictures: Internet Sanda Foişoreanu Gabriela CristescuCopyrights of the photos belong to each photographer

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Ana Moura - A Voz Que Conta a Nossa História; Os Búzios