The Portugal Years: The Bridge 25th of April.

Twenty-Fifth of April Bridge courtesy of Maravilhas de Portugal

The 25th of April Bridge in Lisbon over the Tagus River, opens the list of the 15 most beautiful bridges in Europe, according to a list of Best European Destinations (EBD), a travel organization promoting culture and tourism in Europe. The Lisbon bridge, similar to Golden Gate San Francisco, USA, was inaugurated on 6 August 1966. In addition to this, the Luis I Bridge (or Don Luis, as it is known), in Porto, earned the fifth.  The site advises crossing the lower deck to reach Gaia and its banks, as well as a boat trip on the Douro to admire the bridge. Already the Vasco da Gama Bridge, also in Lisbon, is the longest bridge in Europe (including viaducts) and occupies the 14th position in the list. It was inaugurated in 1998, the same year that the Expo 98 was made. The dictator, Salazar, had ordered it to be built and it was inaugurated in 1966, and the bridge was named Salazar Bridge in his honor.

The bloodless revolution in 1974 did away with the dictators as the soldiers put carnations in their rifles. It occurred on April 25th and they changed the name to The 25th of April Bridge. There is a celebration each year on that date as they consider it their day of independence.