Puente de San Martin (San Martin Bridge), Toledo

The San Martin Bridge is a remarkable medieval bridge that crosses the Tagus river in Toledo. Constructed in the late 14th century, the bridge was designed by the Archbishop Pedro Tenorio to provide access to the old town from the west, as a complement to the older Puente de Alcantara, which linked to the east.

One of the notable features of the Puente de San Martin is its five arches, with the largest in the middle having a span of 40 meters, which was a remarkable feat of engineering at the time of its construction. In fact, only a few bridges in the world were that long at that time. The bridge was heavily fortified with towers on both sides, with the more recent dating from the 16th century.

A legend surrounding the bridge says that the architect who designed it had made a perilous miscalculation, which would have caused the bridge to collapse once its supports were removed. The story goes that the architect's wife, fearing disgrace for her husband, secretly set fire to the bridge the night before its inauguration, causing it to burn down. The bridge was then rebuilt without the original structural miscalculations, and it stands today as a testament to medieval engineering and architecture.

Visitors to the Puente de San Martin can walk across the bridge and take in the breathtaking views of the Tagus river and the city of Toledo. The bridge is an iconic symbol of the city's rich history and cultural heritage, and it remains an important landmark for both locals and tourists alike.