In Portugal, National Road 2 is the longest. There are 738.5 kilometers of tar that connect the city of Chaves to Faro, a route that leads from north to south through 11 districts. They are Vila Real, Viseu, Coimbra, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, Setúbal, Beja and Faro.

 

Not only is it the largest Portuguese road but it is also the largest in Europe. In the world, only two exceed the length on National Road 2.

In Portugal, National Road 2 is the longest. There are 738.5 kilometers of tar that connect the city of Chaves to Faro, a route that leads from north to south through 11 districts. They are Vila Real, Viseu, Coimbra, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, Setúbal, Beja and Faro.

The National Road 2 is the longest in Portugal and Europe, the third longest in the world and crosses the country from one end to the other, through: 35 municipalities in total. 

National Highway 2 crosses the country from north to south and is the third longest road in the world, following Route 66 of the United States of America (USA) and Route 40 of Argentina.

 

The National Road 2 was thus classified in 1945, but the path has already been made with history. Many of the segments of what is the largest Portuguese road were Roman passages before the nineteenth century. Over time these sections were improved until they became the one that is now National 2.

Heritage Road

Given the antiquity of the road, the sites so different where it passes, and the historical importance it had (became the Royal Road), has in its path marks of various eras and stories of great relevance. The section linking Almodôvar to São Brás de Alportel was classified in 2003 as Heritage Road as recognition of the value of the road and the surrounding heritage.

International Comparison

For the same reason, the EN2, as it may also be called, is often compared to the giant Ruta 40 and Route 66 roads. Although the length of the Portuguese can hardly be compared to the Argentine and the North American, it is for “tearing up” in half the country that makes the comparison.

Its part of the story

The National Road 2 was thus classified in 1945, but the path has already been made with history. Many of the segments of what is the largest Portuguese road were Roman passages before the nineteenth century. Over time these sections were improved until they became the one that is now National 2.

Association of Municipalities

Given that this road runs through 11 districts and 33 municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of the National Road Route 2 was created at the end of 2016. The objective of this project is to unite the cities of Chaves and Faro in a tourist aspect.

Museum History

The pole cities of this road came to show interest in creating two museums, one at each end but with similar characteristics, even though they are so different cities, whose purpose is to make known the history of EN2, referring to the opposite end of this road.

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