{"id":3137,"date":"2021-12-08T18:46:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T18:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rotadoamanha.com\/?p=3137"},"modified":"2026-03-21T17:52:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T17:52:25","slug":"lousada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rotadoamanha.com\/en\/lousada\/","title":{"rendered":"Lousada - 1 Day Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

The town of Lousada, in the Porto district, is at the heart of the Rota do Rom\u00e2nico, a cultural-tourist route that involves 58 monuments. Among them, we find the ones from Lousada, which form a simple but interesting itinerary to perform in one day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who want to visit these monuments integrated in the Route of the Romanesque, we advise you to consult the information available online (here<\/a>) and the visit to the Interpretative Center of the Romanesque, in Lousada, where there is an exhibition about the Route and where the \u201cRoute of the Romanesque Passport\u201d is provided:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Espindo Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Espindo Bridge is a Romanesque granite construction with medieval inspiration, but without a concrete year of construction. Consisting of just a round arch, the bridge rests on large pillars on the banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shape of the bridge is ramped on both sides, meeting in the center. Additionally, it is built from blocks of different sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being an apparently simple and discreet bridge, it is also, together with the other structures on this list, an important Romanesque landmark in Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ponte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2. Santa Maria de Meinedo Church<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although its origins date back to the 13th to 14th centuries, excavations carried out in the early 90's identified the existence of a chapel from the 5th to the 6th centuries, so its origin may be older than initially thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associated with its first origin, there is the legend of this Church having housed the body of a Saint, Santo Tirso, during the Visigoth period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its interior, despite being simple marked by the existence of a single nave, has an imposing chancel, complemented by the coffered ceiling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To visit this Church, you can choose to book directly with the Rota do Rom\u00e2nico [Route of the Romanesque] or visit during worship (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm and Sundays at 11.15am). We, unfortunately, have already found it closed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Vilela Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ponte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This is made up of a total of four round arches supported by three pegs. As in the previous one, this one is also built in granite and difficult to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its existence will have been marked by being an important place of passage. Next to it there is a small park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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