Beyond its practical use, we love looking at the 25 de Abril Bridge because it’s so beautiful… and these photos are proof of that.
And when we cross it, we see our city from a different perspective and in its entirety— and for that reason alone, it’s worth the trip.
In addition, the bridge has a rich and interesting history. We’ll share some fun facts with you so you can get to know the 25 de Abril Bridge better.
10 fun facts you “didn’t know” about the 25 de Abril Bridge
1 – It was inaugurated in 1966
Construction of the bridge began in 1962, and it was inaugurated in 1966.
2 – It used to be called the Salazar Bridge
Initially, the bridge was named the Salazar Bridge, in honor of António de Oliveira Salazar. Later, during the April 25 Revolution of 1974,the bridge was renamed to the name we know today.
3 – The first car to cross the bridge
The first car to cross the bridge was a green Austin Seven. In the hours that followed, another 50,000 cars crossed the bridge.
4 – It’s 70 meters from the Tagus River
It stands 70 meters above the water, and its highest point reaches 190 meters! In total, it spans a distance of about 2.2 km.
5 – For cars and trains
It’s a road-and-rail suspension bridge. This means the bridge has one deck for cars and another for the train that crosses the river.
6 – Its American twin
It’s said that the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (USA) is our bridge’s “twin sister .” They share a similar appearance: both are suspension bridges and feature a beautiful red color. But the true inspiration comes from another bridge in the same American city, the Bay Bridge,which, despite being white, bears an even closer resemblance to ours.
7 – 11 million euros
Its construction cost around 11 million euros (not bad for the time), and 3,000 day laborers were involved in the project .
8 – 150,000 cars per day
After the bridge opened, 6 million cars crossed it in 1970. Today, we can expect roughly 150,000 cars per day.
9 – The most beautiful in Europe
It was voted the most beautiful bridge in Europe in 2014 by European Best Destination. We already knew that, but it’s always nice when our neighbors admire what we have.
10 – Over 50 years old
In August 2016, our bridge celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Today, August 6, 2026, it celebrates its 60th anniversary, and this was the drone show presented at midnight.
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