25th April Bridge, Lisbon

Stretching across the estuary at the Tagus River in Lisbon is the Ponte 25 de April (25th April Bridge); the largest suspension bridge in Europe and the 20th longest in the world. Often considered as a twin sister of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco because of its similar design the bridge in Lisbon is actually 300 feet (100m) longer.

Officially opened in 1966 the Ponte 25 de April was considered the primary connection between north and south Portugal until the Vasco da Gama Bridge was built in 1998. Around this time works were carried out to suspend two railroad tracks under the main road platform. This involved reinforcing the bridge using additional cables made by the original manufacturer, the American Bridge Company.

Standing over 200 feet (70 m) above the water, the 25th of April Bridge is both worth seeing itself, but also admiring the view from too. Heading across the bridge by train or car will give you a fantastic viewpoint to see the city of Lisbon from; the uninterrupted views are breathtaking.

The bridge is a spectacular sight from any direction with a length of approximately 1.5 miles (2.3 Km), it dominates the river and there are many places to get views of the structure from. The marina and bars under the bridge at the Docas de Santa Amaro give you a real impression of the size of this bridge. Across the river at the Cristo Rei (monument of Christ the King) you'll get a fantastic alternative angle looking down on the bridge.

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