It is commonly said in Porto that Luis I bridge is not called Dom Luis I by the fact that the city’s inhabitants have considered disrespectful the king’s absence at its opening in 1886.
This does not seem to correspond to reality.
To prove this fact, it is noted that in the newspapers news during the period of its construction the bridge was called “Luis I Bridge”;
Also other important buildings of the same era with the names of members of the royal family did not have the titles in their names as in the railway bridge Maria Pia (not Dona Maria Pia), dedicated to the queen, and the velodrome Maria Amélia (not Dona Amélia), dedicated to the future queen consort of king D. Carlos;
Although the official name of the bridge is “Luiz I,” as evidenced by the inscriptions on the plates of piers-date on the bottom board entries, the population of Porto had always called it “D. Luis Bridge” safeguarding the title of king with whom the city has close proximity.
The Luiz I bridge is a bridge in metal frame with two trays, built between 1881 and 1888, linking the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia (north and south bank, respectively) separated by the river Douro.
This building replaced the old suspension bridge that existed in the same place and was carried out by the project engineer Belgian Théophile Seyrig, who had previously collaborated with Gustave Eiffel in the construction of the railway bridge Maria Pia.
The bridge was opened in 1886 (upper deck) and 1888 (lower panel).
Ponte (Dom) Luis I
This does not seem to correspond to reality.
To prove this fact, it is noted that in the newspapers news during the period of its construction the bridge was called “Luis I Bridge”;
Also other important buildings of the same era with the names of members of the royal family did not have the titles in their names as in the railway bridge Maria Pia (not Dona Maria Pia), dedicated to the queen, and the velodrome Maria Amélia (not Dona Amélia), dedicated to the future queen consort of king D. Carlos;
Although the official name of the bridge is “Luiz I,” as evidenced by the inscriptions on the plates of piers-date on the bottom board entries, the population of Porto had always called it “D. Luis Bridge” safeguarding the title of king with whom the city has close proximity.
The Luiz I bridge is a bridge in metal frame with two trays, built between 1881 and 1888, linking the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia (north and south bank, respectively) separated by the river Douro.
This building replaced the old suspension bridge that existed in the same place and was carried out by the project engineer Belgian Théophile Seyrig, who had previously collaborated with Gustave Eiffel in the construction of the railway bridge Maria Pia.
The bridge was opened in 1886 (upper deck) and 1888 (lower panel).