Ribeira d’Ametade Bridge crosses a stream on the ER103, in the mountainous interior of Madeira. Maps and signs give it as Ponte da Ribeira da Metade, and it is also known as A Ponte Velha, the old bridge. The draw is the setting: an old crossing with mountains rising behind it, which is why it appears in so many photographs of the island. Most people see it from the road, but a track beside the bridge leads to a path down to the stream.
Ribeira d’Ametade Bridge
Local name: Ponte da Ribeira d’Ametade
Photographs of the bridge fill Madeira’s social feeds, and there is nowhere at the bridge to stop and take one.
- Entrance
- Free. The bridge stands on a public road, with no ticket and no gate.
- Accessibility
- Roadside viewing only. The track and the path down to the stream are unsurfaced and unsuitable for wheelchairs.
- Parking
- No car park at the bridge and nowhere to pull in. The nearest parking mapped in the area is about 1.1 km away.
- Difficulty
- No walking needed to see the bridge. Reaching the stream means a dusty track, then a path branching right down to the water.
- Transport
- Bus stop Paragem da Volta da Eira lies about 200 m from the bridge; a second stop, CAM da Fajã Grande Cima, is a similar distance.
- Hours
- No opening hours — a public road bridge, reachable at any time.
What makes it special
An old crossing with mountains rising behind it — that pairing is the whole of the appeal, and it is why the bridge turns up so often on Instagram and in tour photographs. It is also known as A Ponte Velha, the old bridge.
The setting is working landscape rather than a viewpoint. An information board at the bridge marks the entrance to the Fajã da Nogueira hydroelectric station. Follow the dusty track beside the bridge for about 300 m and a path branches right, down to the stream. That is the one place where the bridge is more than a drive-by stop. Off-road tour vehicles use the same road, so expect company.
Good to know
- No toilets. There are none at the bridge and none mapped in the surrounding area.
- Shared road. Off-road tour vehicles use this road regularly, but a passenger car is enough to get here.
- Photo stops are awkward. There is no lay-by at the bridge, and a lot of people end up photographing it from the car.
- The stream is reachable. The dusty track beside the bridge leads to a path down to the water.
Getting there
Access is by car. The road in is steep, but a normal passenger car handles it — the off-road vehicles on it are tour groups, not a sign of what is needed. There is nowhere to pull in at the bridge itself, which is why so many photographs of it are taken through a car window. To reach the water, take the dusty track that runs beside the bridge. After about 300 m a path branches to the right and leads down to the stream.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Ribeira d’Ametade Bridge on the map
There is no lay-by at the bridge, and the road carries off-road tour traffic. Do not stop on the carriageway to take a photograph.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to the bridge in a normal car?
Yes. The access road is steep, but a passenger car handles it. The off-road vehicles you meet on it belong to tour operators.Is there anywhere to park?
Not at the bridge — there is no car park and no lay-by. The nearest parking mapped in the area is about 1.1 km away.Can you get down to the stream?
Yes. A dusty track runs beside the bridge; after about 300 m a path branches to the right and leads down to the water.Are there toilets?
No. There are none at the bridge and none mapped nearby.What name should I search for on a map?
Ponte da Ribeira da Metade, on the ER103. The bridge also goes by A Ponte Velha, the old bridge.