Ponte de Dom Luís I

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Spanning the Douro River, the Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto provides a unique moment of calm in the early hours of the day. The recording captures the peaceful atmosphere, where the distant calls of seagulls and the quiet hum of the city fill the air.
In this tranquil setting, the Metro train makes its dramatic entrance, its sound gradually building as it approaches, becoming louder until it passes by, leaving only the faint echoes of its journey. The bridge remains still, with the occasional shift of air and the gentle sounds of the river below, all while the city begins to stir.
This recording encapsulates the quiet tension between the city’s calm morning and the inevitable passage of time marked by the Metro's presence.
UNESCO listing: Dom Luís I Bridge
Recorded by Serge Bulat.
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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage