Puente Romano, Mérida

The Puente Romano (Spanish for Roman Bridge) is a Roman bridge over the Guadiana River at Mérida in southwest Spain.

Puente Romano
Puente Romano as seen from the right bank of Guadiana River
Coordinates38°54′47″N 6°21′03″W
CrossesGuadiana River
LocaleMérida, Spain
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialGranite ashlar
Total length790 m (incl. approaches)
WidthCa. 7.1 m
Longest span11.6 m
No. of spans60 (incl. 3 buried)
History
Construction endReign of Trajan (98–117 AD)
Statistics
Official nameRoman Bridge over Guadiana River
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, iv
Designated1993 (17th session)
Part ofArchaeological Ensemble of Mérida
Reference no.664-004
RegionEurope and North America
Official namePuente Romano sobre El Guadiana
TypeNon-movable
CriteriaMonument
Designated13 December 1912
Reference no.RI-51-0000110
Location

It is the world's longest (in terms of distance) surviving bridge from ancient times, having once featured an estimated overall length of 755 m with 62 spans.[1] Today, there are 60 spans (three of which are buried on the southern bank) on a length of 721 m between the abutments. Including the approaches, the structure totals 790 m. It is still in use, but was pedestrianized in 1991 as road traffic was redirected to use the nearby Lusitania Bridge.

Annexed to the bridge is the Alcazaba of Mérida, a Moorish fortification built in 835.

Close to the remains of the Acueducto de los Milagros, there exists another Roman bridge at Mérida, the much smaller Puente de Albarregas.

See also

Notes

  1. O’Connor 1993, pp. 106–107

Sources

  • O’Connor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, pp. 106f. (SP15), ISBN 0-521-39326-4

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