Ponte Vella, also known as Ponte Vella or Ponte Romana, is a medieval footbridge in Ourense, Spain, located at the intersection of N120 and Rua Progreso. It spans the Minho River with a steep rise of 135 feet (41 m) above the water, which ensures safe passage during flash floods. At one time, the structure was considered to be the biggest bridge in all of Spain.
The bridge was built on Roman foundations, with some sources stating the original bridge was built during the first century rule of Emperor Augustus, while others say it dates to the Trajan period. It was later rebuilt in 1230 by Bishop Lorenzo. In 1449, Bishop Pedro de Silva repaired the bridge, at which time it measured 1,319 feet (402 m) long with an arch span of 156 feet (48 m).
Following the collapse of the main arch in 1499, the bridge was rebuilt in 1679 to a length of 370 metres (1,210 ft) with seven arched spans. The main span measures 43 metres (141 ft), and the bridge sits 38 metres (125 ft) above the water level. It served as the only access across the Minho River until 1816, providing a route for trade and pilgrimage from the Middle Ages.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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