This engraving represents the tragic episode of the ‘Ponte das Barcas’ disaster on 29th March 1809, which occurred during the Peninsular War. Popular in character, probably by a local artist, it is one of the most faithful depictions of the catastrophe. It documents, next to the Ribeira quay, the entrance of the French cavalry and the hasty flight of the city’s inhabitants, causing the bridge formed by 20 barges to collapse. On the left of the engraving, we see the bridge breaking, causing many of those fleeing the city to drown.