Alcantara bridge (Cáceres)
see scale model 1
see scale model 2
Location:
It is located over the Tajo river on the outskirts of the Alcántara town (Caceres).
Description and History:
Its dimensions are 214 m long and 48 m maximum height of its
central arches. The road has a width of 8 m.
Possibly It's the most important Roman bridge in the world. In fact,
its name, Alcantara (Al Qantarat) means "The Bridge" in Arabic, enough
to understand the importance of this construction.
It was crafted from between 105 and 106 by the Roman architect 'Cayo
Iulio Lacer' Track that communicated in Norba (current Cáceres) with
Conimbriga (today Condeixa-a-Velha) therefore it is not an access to
any city.
At its center, and on the road, has a Arc de Triomphe in which two
marble plaques observed in one inscription with the date of its
construction and dedication to the emperor 'Trajan'.
The bridge has undergone several restorations mutilations and different
times in history:
- In 1213, when the King of Castile, 'Fernando Alcantara II' took the
Muslims at the time of the Reconquista, the first arc was cut more near
the Temple.
- In 1648, during the War of the Restoration between the kingdoms of
Portugal and Spain, was mutilated the second arch of the right bank.
- In 1809, during the War of Independence, when the British and
Portuguese troops attempted prevent the passage of the French, breaking
the same arc.
The vision that can be seen today is the architect 'Alejandro Millán'
during the reign of 'Isabel II', between the years 1858-1860. Restored
not only the arc destroyed in 1809, but also noticed some pillars and
triumphal arch, already threatened ruin.
A few meters beyond the bridge is the dam of Alcantara, the second
largest dam in Spain with a capacity of 3160 cubic hectometers and
occupying an area of 10400 hectares.
Information based in spanisharts y puentealcantara
