Alcántara Bridge, Roman bridge in Alcántara, Spain
The Alcántara Bridge is a Roman structure with six arches that spans the Tagus River in Extremadura and reaches a length of 194 meters. The height of 71 meters makes this crossing one of the most impressive examples of Roman engineering on the Iberian Peninsula.
Emperor Trajan commissioned the construction between 104 and 106 AD, funded by twelve municipalities of the ancient province of Lusitania. The arches remained intact over the centuries and served as an important crossing during Moorish and Christian rule.
The name comes from the Arabic al-Qantarah, meaning the arch, a sign of the cultural exchange between Roman and Moorish periods on the Iberian Peninsula. Travelers can admire the massive granite construction that has been present in daily life across the region for centuries.
Visitors can explore the structure on foot and should wear sturdy shoes, as paths around the river are sometimes uneven. The view is best on clear days when the sun lights up the granite stones and the waters of the Tagus.
An inscription on the central pier names the municipalities that funded the construction and remains readable today. The architect Gaius Iulius Lacer also built a small temple next to the crossing, dedicated to the emperor.
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