{"id":2741,"date":"2014-11-12T10:33:18","date_gmt":"2014-11-12T10:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.spainexchange.com\/?p=2741"},"modified":"2026-10-09T14:01:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T14:01:34","slug":"puente-de-san-martin-toledo-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spainexchange.com\/articles\/puente-de-san-martin-toledo-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"Puente de San Martin, Toledo, Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Puente de San Mart\u00edn is the medieval bridge over the Tagus on the west side of Toledo. It has five arches and a tower at each end, and it has been a National Monument since 1921. This post covers its history, what to look at on the bridge, what else is close by and how to reach it.<\/p>\n

Where it is and why it was built<\/h2>\n

The bridge stands on the western side of the city, opposite the Puente de Alc\u00e1ntara<\/a> on the eastern side. The city’s tourist board lists it in the Juder\u00eda, the old Jewish quarter. It takes its name from the parish of San Mart\u00edn, to which it belonged.<\/p>\n

The heritage catalogue of Castilla-La Mancha describes it as a late medieval work of military architecture. Its purpose was to defend the territory of Toledo by controlling a crossing of the Tagus. It also let people and livestock pass to the lands west of the city, the Montes de Toledo.<\/p>\n

History<\/h2>\n

The first document that mentions the bridge dates from 1301 and is a privilege granted by King Fernando IV. According to the tourist board, the bridge replaced an earlier bridge of boats near the same spot. The heritage catalogue considers it likely that the builders took the Puente de Alc\u00e1ntara as their model. They needed more arches because the Tagus is wider at this point.<\/p>\n

The bridge was damaged in the fighting between Pedro I of Castile and his half-brother Enrique de Trast\u00e1mara. Around 1355 Pedro I is said to have set fire to its gates, and in 1368 it was damaged again. Archbishop Pedro Tenorio had it restored. Around 1390 he built a large central arch and the two crenellated towers at the ends.<\/p>\n

Inscriptions on the bridge record a restoration in 1690, during the reign of Carlos II. The roadway was paved around 1760, which ended the works.<\/p>\n

What to look at<\/h2>\n

The bridge is built of ashlar stone. It has five slightly pointed arches, and the central one is much larger than the others.<\/p>\n