Puente de Maria Cristina (Maria Cristina Bridge), San Sebastian

The María Cristina Bridge is a historical landmark in the Basque city of San Sebastián. The bridge spans the Urumea river and connects the downtown area to the North Station, the bullfighting arena, and the velodrome. The bridge was originally built as a temporary wooden walkway in 1893 to provide direct access to these locations.

The construction of the permanent bridge began soon after, and it was completed in 1905. The bridge was financed by the Caja de Ahorros of the municipality, which provided a credit for a hundred years without interest. The project was designed by Ribera and Zapata, and the engineering and architectural work was done by Marcelo Sarasola and José de Goicoa, respectively.

One of the most striking features of the María Cristina Bridge are the four monumental obelisks located at its ends. These obelisks are replicas of those found on the Alexander III bridge in Paris and are 18 meters high, crowned by sculptural groups. The bridge was built using reinforced concrete, which was a novel material at that time. It features three arches that are 24 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 88 meters long.

The opening of the bridge was a cause for great celebration in the city. The festivities began with the performance of the music band La Unión, followed by the music bands of two infantry companies. The band of the city council entered with the corporation, press, and others, and all the balconies along the route were decorated for the occasion. The opening also featured a hymn composed for the occasion by the master Santesteban and performed by the Orfeón Donostiarra and the Choir of the Municipal Academy of Music of San Sebastián, which consisted of 110 children.

The day of the opening also featured a fireworks display and a "toro de fuego" (bull of fire), which was a traditional celebration that had been banned in the city for the previous three years. The ban had caused unrest among the young people, who had protested by stoning lampposts, shop windows, and official centers and newsrooms. To prevent any disturbances during the opening, the police took precautions and many serenos (night watchmen) were present along the bull route, prompting loud protests from the neighborhood.

In summary, the María Cristina Bridge is a significant historical landmark in San Sebastián, Spain, with a fascinating history and striking architectural features. The bridge continues to be an important part of the city's transportation infrastructure and a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.