Roman bridge in Chaves

Trajan's Bridge (Ponte de Trajano)
Roman Bridge of Chaves
Bridge (Ponte)
An oblique view of the Roman bridge of Chaves
Official name: Ponte de Trajano
Named for: Trajan
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Sub-region	Alto Trás-os-Montes
District	Vila Real
Municipality	Chaves
Location	Santa Maria Maior
Length	.140 km (0 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Width	8.9 m (29 ft), Northwest-Southeast
Materials	Granite, Iron, Cement
Initiated	100 B.C.
- Constructed	1st Century
- Completed	2nd Century
Owner	Portuguese Republic
For public	Public
Easiest access	Rua da Ponte Romana; Rua Cândido Sotto Mayor
Management	Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Status	National Monuments Monumento Nacional
Listing	Decree 16 June 1910, Diário do Governo, Série 1, 136 (23 June 1910); Decree 28/536, DG, 1.ª série, n.º 66 de 22 março 1938 *1

Trajan's Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte de Trajano) is a roman bridge in the civil parish of Santa Maria Maior, in the municipality of Chaves in the Portuguese central subregion of Alto Trás-os-Montes.

In 79 B.C., the column known as the Padrão dos Povos (People's Standard) dedicated by the 10 civitas to the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus, to the Augustus's legate and procurator and the 7th Legion Gemina Felix.

It was at the end of the 1st century or beginning of the 2nd century, the bridge was constructed, by engineers under the emperor Trajan. A commemorative column was erected in 104, alleging to the bridges construction by Flavian locals, at their cost.

The bridge was first represented in the book of Duarte d'Armas in the 16th century, as seen from the eastern bank, showing 14 arches, interlinked by talhamares with guards and on the northern bank some watermills. On 7 December 1514, the first foral (charter) was issued by King D. Manuel and included a representation of the bridge in its coat-of-arms.

In 1548, Spanish Cardinal Luís de Castro, while travelling to Santiago de Compostela, passed through Chaves. While there he copied the inscription on the column that he found in the vegetable gardens of Simão Guedes. Similarly, in 1572, Ambróis de Morales while traveling between the Spanish kingdoms encountered a column opposite the bridge, at the home of João Guedes (likely son or grandson of Simão Guedes) and, also, copied the inscription of the column.

From the end of the 16th century and 17th century, the standard was implanted in the north of the bridge, then re-planted (after it fell), resulting in the break in the inscription. In 1711 or 1723, a study by Távora was completed, and the inscription copied and published in his Noticias. In 1738, Rodrigo de Sande Vasconcellos, artillery lieutenant-colonel ordered the columns removed, placing one in the military square and another as a marker, inscribing some letters, that over time became less perceptible (from the reference in the 1758 Memórias Paroquiais.