The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a modern cable style bridge that charts traffic across the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. This bridge, with its viaducts, is now the longest bridge in all of Europe. The bridge was opened in 1998, in time to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a trade route to India. It was designed and constructed by Armando Rito.
While this is a modern bridge, and does not hold the historical value that other landmarks in Lisbon do, it is still worth checking out. The Vasco da Gama Bridge was built at no cost to the state. It was built by private contractors, with a 40 year agreement on toll rights. The bridge was built in the BOT (build-operate-transfer) model by a company called Lusoponte.
Architecturally, Vasco da Gama Bridge is impressive. It was built to last for 120 years, and withstand wind speeds of 250 km/h. It was designed to stand through earthquakes up to 4.5 times stronger than the 8.7 on the Richter scale earthquake that shook Lisbon in 1755.
Sightseeing near Vasco da Gama Bridge
Nearby sites of interest include the Engracia Pantheon, a beautiful church with a rich history.
There are many lovely hotels in the area, including: Tryp Oriente and the Hotel Tivoli Oriente.
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