Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Puente Nuevo Bridge

Puente Nuevo Bridge. Photo By Judas6000 – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Puente Nuevo Bridge

Puente Nuevo Bridge (New Bridge) is an artificial phenomenon in Ronda, a town in the Malanga province of Spain. It was completed in 1793 and is part of two other bridges built over the Guadalevin River that join the two parts of the city.

Ronda is a small town with a population of fewer than 40,000 people. Its first settlers were proven to have existed in the 6^th Century BC, making it one of the oldest towns in Spain. Its development was influenced by the Moorish/Islamic Era when it was made an independent Kingdom and named Taifa of Ronda.

The town is separated into two, La Ciudad and El Mercadillo, by the El Tajo gorge. The movement of the tectonic plates and continuous erosion of the Guadalevin river caused a deep valley in between.

When Christians took over the town in the 16^th century, they molded it into what is seen today. The core, which was once known as Madinat, was renamed La Ciudad. San Francisco and Mercadillo became new societies.

The two societies existed as separate entities. Public utilities such as hospitals, convents, and churches were constructed in the town’s core, while commercial properties were built in Mercadillo.

After the construction of the Plaza de Toros bullring and the La Hidalga aqueduct, the town’s development increased its population. At the time, Puente Roman and Puente Viejo (old bridge) were the only links between La Ciudad and Mercadillo. However, the two bridges did not directly connect the centers.

In 1542, King Philip V envisaged joining the two towns through a bridge, the Puente Nuevo. It was first constructed in 1735 but was later reconstructed in 1759. The work took 34 years to complete.

Find other fascinating things to do in Malanga here. 

1. The Location Of The Puente Nuevo Bridge Was Strategically Selected

King Philip V of Spain. Photo By Jean Ranc – Wikimedia Commons

The need for a direct link between La Ciudad and El Mercadillo rose after the Christians took over the Islamic lead town in 1485. Several factors were considered in identifying the ideal location for the proposed bridge.

King Philip V wanted a direct connection between the two centers, an area that did not limit the town’s expansion. The citizens of Ronda desired an area that was flat and easily accessible.

Read more remarkable facts about Philipe V of Spain here. 

2. Its Museum Was Previously Used As A Torture Chamber

In 1936, the Republicans and the Nationalists began a civil war that lasted for three years. The war was brutal and inhumane. Both parties avenged the other through merciless torture and imprisonment of their supporters.

A room in the main arch of the Puente Nuevo Bridge was used as a torture chamber and a prison cell. It is said that those captured were pushed over the bridge into the 120-meter-deep gorge.

Ernest Hemingway, the author of For Whom The Bell Tolls, wrote of the gruesome events which are yet to be proven as facts. The chamber has since been converted into the Puente Nuevo historical museum.

3. The Collapse Of The First Attempted Puente Nuevo Bridge Led To The Death Of 50 People

Image of Grave yard. Photo By Wälz – Pixabay

The architects Jose Garcia and Juan Camacho began the bridge’s construction in 1735. It was their first trial at building a bridge of such depth. Though the width was narrow, the gorge’s depth was the project’s biggest challenge.

Having not tackled such terrain before, the architects put together a simple single-arch design. The structure was built hurriedly, and allegedly, little thought had been put into it. In 1741, it fell apart, causing the demise of 50 people. 

4. The Puente Neuvo Bridge Is A Result Of Two Separate Designs

(Central and top arches) The Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda. Photo By Mervat –Wikimedia Commons

When the bridge collapsed, a new architect, Domingo Lois de Monteagudo, was contracted to redesign it. Domingo worked hand in hand with Antonio Diaz Machuca, the chief builder, and construction officially began in 1759.

Antonio’s invention of the pulley machines eased the labor-intensive work of placing ready-shaped stones onto the bridge. The construction was slow but steady; by 1778, a third had been completed.

In 1785, the administrator of Ronda opted for a different architect. Jose Martin de Aldehuela, a well-known Andalucian architect, was requested to see the bridge to its completion. He added his touch to it with an extraordinary design, and in 1793, the bridge was open for use.

5. The Puente Nuevo Bridge Was Constructed In Three Stages

The collapse of the 1735 bridge brought insight and significant changes to the bridge’s initial design. The first stage of its construction focused on building a solid foundation. An arch of about 40 m was put up against the bedrock of the gorge.

In the second stage, the central arch of the bridge was built. It stands at the height of 90m and has two top arches that marked the final stage of the bridge’s construction. Right on top of the central arch is the 60 square meter room that was once used as a torture chamber but has since been converted into a museum. 

 6. It Is Spain’s Most Photographed Location

The final product of the Puente Nuevo Bridge was, in itself, a work of art. The Romanesque arches and the river flow underneath make it the perfect spot for a snapshot.

The gorge also has a remarkable view of the endless green fields and white Andalusian houses. The bridge is best viewed from Camino de los Molinos, located at the bottom of the gorge, the garden House of Don Bosco, and the Cuenca gardens on the eastern side.

7. It Was Believed That It’s Architect Committed Suicide From The Very Bridge

In the 18^th century, Pascual Ruiz contracted Martin de Aldehuela as the second architect. He oversaw the second phase of the bridge construction until its completion.

Some say Martin jumped off the bridge in despair a few years after it was put up. This was based on the rumor that a more aesthetically appealing bridge would be built in place of Puente Nuevo, his magnum opus.

The rumor was assumed to be true until it was reported he had moved to Malaga, where he met his death in 1802.

8. Only A Handful of Hotels In Ronda Offer A View Of The Magnificent Bridge

For those looking forward to waking up or winding down with a sight of the Puente Nuevo Bridge, Hotel Parador, Hotel Don Miguel, and Hotel Montelirio offer the best vistas.

 Hotel Parador is centrally located and is often fully booked due to its convenience. The view of the bridge is a plus. Hotel Montelirio, which overlooks the gorge, was built as part of a palace in the 1600s.

The structure of Hotel Don Miguel is unique in that it appears as if it is hanging from the cliff, ready to fall. Aside from the views of Puente Nuevo, it is also possible to see the Puente Romano from Hotel Don Miguel.  

9. Its Gorge Was Ronda’s Most Formidable Defense During Times Of War

Puente Nuevo and El Tajo gorge / Ronda, Spain. Photo By Sergey Ashmarin – Wikimedia Commons

The size of El Tajo gorge acted in favor of Ronda as it became the town’s defense system during its wars. The gorge’s depth threatened those who invaded the town’s boundaries.

Today, the gorge is a recreational site. Visitors can hike down the steep escarpments into the valley and enjoy a walk along the Guadalevin river, which has its source in Sierra de las Nieves.

10. The Puente Nuevo Bridge Was The Last Bridge To Be Built Before Modern Engineering

The Civil Engineering School of Spain was founded in 1802, nearly a decade after completing the Puente Nuevo bridge. Previously, no engineering advancements could aid in the construction of complex structures such as the bridge. The architects relied on luck and lessons attained from failed constructions.

In 1747, the world’s first engineering school was opened in France. The Civil Engineering School became Spain’s first technical education center. It was renamed the School of Industrial Engineering in 1850 and is now part of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

See other popular icon and landmarks to visit in Spain here.