ROMAN BRIDGE OF SALAMANCA

For about two thousand years, the history of the Roman Bridge has been closely linked to the historical evolution of the city. It is one of Salamanca's most representative monuments. Its image is intimately associated with that of the city, along with that of the Vettonian boar, both forming part of Salamanca's coat of arms.

For centuries, popular tradition attributed the construction of the Roman Bridge to Hercules, and its subsequent rebuilding to Emperor Trajan. This belief was reinforced in 1767, when a platinum box containing a medal in honor of Hercules was found in the first arch of the bridge, strengthening the legend that has persisted to this day in the collective imagination.

Historical studies place the bridge's construction in the second half of the 1st century AD, as a response to the need to facilitate the crossing of the Tormes River for travelers along the Vía de la Plata/Roman road, which connected Mérida with Astorga (Iter ab Emerita Asturicam). It is believed that this road might have been completed during the time of Emperor Augustus, around 19 BC, which has led some researchers to believe that a bridge combining stone and wood in its structure might have already existed at that time.

Although its construction likely dates back to the 1st century AD, the exact timing remains a subject of debate today. Some studies suggest the bridge may have been built during Nero's reign; others attribute it to the reigns of Trajan or Hadrian, basing this hypothesis on architectural similarities with the Segovia Aqueduct and epigraphic studies of the milestones preserved alongside the Roman road. The reality, to this day, is that there are no archaeological, epigraphic, or documentary evidences that allow for the precise determination of its exact construction date.

There is also no precise information about the role the bridge may have played in later eras. During the Reconquista, the bridge must have been an important crossing point in the communication routes of the Kingdom of León, but there is no documentary record of its existence until the 13th century, when a bull on a stone bridge is documented on the obverse of the Seal of the Council of Salamanca. Both the bull and the bridge also appear in the Fuero de Salamanca, dated to the second half of the 13th century. It would be from the 15th century onwards that references to the bridge became common in the chronicles of various foreign travelers visiting the city.

Since its origins, the bridge has been exposed to the floods of the Tormes, considered, along with the Tagus, one of the most dangerous rivers in the Iberian Peninsula due to its frequent and devastating deluges. These floods have caused numerous damages to the bridge's structure and, although the ruin of its southern half is traditionally attributed to the Flood of Saint Polycarp, the truth is that it must have suffered destruction on several occasions throughout its long history. It is known that in the 16th century, a reconstructed part already existed, so the great flood of 1626 did not destroy the original work, but rather a structure that had already been restored previously. The definitive repair would not be completed until 1677, under the reign of Philip IV, as stated in the inscription located on the pillars at the bridge's exit towards El Arrabal.

At the end of the 19th century, the bridge faced one of its greatest threats. The Directorate of Roads proposed widening it with cantilever beams to broaden the roadway and adapt it to the incipient automobile traffic. Thanks to the efforts of councilor Enrique Estevan Santos, the proposal was discarded, and it was decided to build a new bridge upstream. This new structure, built of iron, was opened to road traffic in 1913.

Until then, the Roman Bridge had been the only access to the city from the south. The construction of the Santa Teresa reservoir in the 1940s allowed for the regulation of the Tormes floods and prevented further damage to its structure. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931, its use has been exclusively pedestrian since 1973.

Near the Roman Bridge, on both banks of the river, there are numerous points of interest. On the right bank, on the city side, it is worth highlighting:

• El Verraco of the Roman Bridge: right at the beginning of the bridge, you will find this Vettonian sculpture of a bull carved in granite. It is an ancestral symbol dating back to pre-Roman times. • Lazarillo de Tormes Sculpture: a tribute to the famous literary character, located next to the bridge. • Church of Santiago: a 12th-century Romanesque temple, a traditional stopping point for pilgrims. It was completely rebuilt in the mid-20th century. • Automotive History Museum: features an important collection of historical vehicles housed in a former electricity factory. • Casa Lis: Art Nouveau and Art Deco museum. From the river area, its iron facade adorned with beautiful stained-glass windows is particularly striking. • Calixto and Melibea's Garden: an intimate and romantic garden with spectacular views of the cathedral and the river area. Ideal for strolling among the vegetation and reliving the literary history of “La Celestina”.

On the other side of the river, in the Arrabal area, you will find these charming spots: • Old Church of Arrabal (Santísima Trinidad): a temple of medieval origin, . • New Church of Arrabal (Santísima Trinidad): a mid-20th-century construction with an impressive mural by Genaro de No Soler. • Roman Bridge Viewpoint: a panoramic spot ideal for photographing the bridge and the city at sunset. • Pier Viewpoint: a space next to the river with relaxing views and access to nautical activities. • Enrique Estevan Bridge: an elegant 20th-century iron bridge, with views of the city and the Roman Bridge.

The bridge is formed by two clearly differentiated sections, separated by a central turret that protrudes from the roadway. The part closest to the city's historic center, known in historiography as “the old bridge,” is of Roman origin; while the more modern section, called “new bridge or Hispanic bridge,” was rebuilt in later eras.

Origin and Evolution Although the exact date of its construction is not known, it is estimated to have been erected between the mandates of emperors Augustus (27 BC–14 AD) and Vespasian (69–79 AD), making it a two-thousand-year-old work. Throughout its history, it has been restored on multiple occasions and has resisted several demolition attempts.

From an architectural point of view, the bridge consists of 26 arches, of which the first fifteen—counting from its northern side to the central turret—are of Roman construction. Its total length is around 350m. and its width ranges between 6 and 7m.

Its structure is divided into two clearly differentiated parts; in the center of the bridge there is a turret, which marks the separation between both sections. The Roman part was built with granite from the Los Santos quarries, while the modern or Hispanic part was rebuilt in later periods with stone from Ledesma.

Roman Section The length of this Roman section is 201.20 meters, with a roadway width of almost six meters. The Roman structure is characterized by its symmetry and solidity, with granite ashlar stones placed without mortar. The technique used in carving the ashlar stones is rustication, where the notches for lifting them with forceps during construction are visible. Regarding its structure, it consists of semicircular arches with equally rusticated voussoirs and spans of between 9.50 and 9.80 meters. The height of the arches is approximately six meters. Upstream, it has pilasters resting on triangular-plan cutwaters. The cobblestone pavement seen today is not the original one of the bridge. Archaeological stratigraphy studies have been carried out, confirming that about fifty centimeters deep there are remains of a pavement made with large slabs, slabs that do not appear in the more modern section.

The New Bridge Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, this section extends from the central turret to the left bank of the Tormes River, with a length of 157.5 meters. It is formed by eleven semicircular arches, clearly distinct in style and materials from those of the Roman era, using stone from the Ledesma area. At the entrance from the suburb, there are two pilasters whose inscriptions commemorate the restoration carried out in the 17th century. The left pilaster shows the royal coat of arms and an inscription alluding to the works carried out under the reign of Philip IV, directed by Pedro de la Puente Montecillo. The inscription indicates that the work was completed in 1681: This bridge construction was completed while D. Pedro de Prado, Knight Corregidor, Knight of the Order of Santiago, Lord of the town of Adanero, Chief Bailiff of the Royal Chancery of Valladolid, was in office. Year 1681.