Stone arches
Over the lake.
Hedestad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hedestad — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gustavoalvesgsilva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eugenio Hansen, OFS — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hedestad — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Stone Bridge, also called the «Azores Bridge», is a historic monument in the Largo dos Açorianos in central Porto Alegre, the square that also holds the monument to the Azorean settlers who founded the city. It replaced a primitive wooden bridge built on almost the same spot around 1825, repeatedly rebuilt after floods and timber decay until it was closed in 1848. The new bridge was ordered in 1843 by the Duke of Caxias, then president of the province, before the end of the turbulent Ragamuffin War, and built of stone to last. The builder João Batista Soares da Silveira e Sousa used enslaved labour; it opened to the public unfinished in 1848 and was completed only in 1854. It crossed one branch of the Dilúvio stream, the only link between the Arraial da Baronesa district and the historic centre. Today the bridge's stone arches stand over a small lake in the square's garden, the stream having been diverted, a witness to the old city. It can be seen at any time and pairs with the Azorean monument and a walk towards the Otávio Rocha viaduct and the historic centre.
Over the lake.
In the square.
The stream's story.
Largo dos Açorianos, central Porto Alegre
Viaduto Otávio RochaThe Otávio Rocha Viaduct is one of Porto Alegre's outstanding feats of engineeri6 minutes walk4.4
Piratini PalaceThe Piratini Palace is the seat of the Rio Grande do Sul state government, on Pr7 minutes walk4.6
Museu de Porto Alegre Joaquim FelizardoThe Joaquim Felizardo Museum of Porto Alegre is the city's history museum, house8 minutes walk4.5
Praça da Matriz (Porto Alegre)Praça da Matriz, officially Praça Marechal Deodoro, is the heart of Porto Alegre8 minutes walk
Biblioteca Pública do Estado (Rio Grande do Sul)The Rio Grande do Sul State Public Library is a cultural institution in Porto Al9 minutes walk4.6It was ordered in 1843, opened unfinished in 1848 and completed in 1854.