Puente de Piedra, Stone arch bridge in Soria, Spain
Puente de Piedra is a stone arch bridge spanning the Douro River with eight semicircular arches built from sandstone blocks and fitted with protective structures on its pillars. The structure was widened in 1915 from 5 to 7.7 meters (25 feet) through the addition of concrete cantilevers and now uses traffic lights to manage one-way vehicle flow.
The bridge was first documented in 1157 and later received restoration orders from the Catholic Monarchs. In 1538 it underwent repairs using materials from the nearby Santa Cristina church.
The bridge once served as part of the city's medieval defenses and played a central role in controlling trade crossing the Douro. Today visitors can still see how this historical function shaped the structure and design of its supports.
The walkway is narrow and shares space with vehicular traffic, so visitors should stay alert and follow traffic signals carefully. The bridge is best explored during quieter times such as early morning or late afternoon when traffic is lighter.
At night the bridge is lit by LED lights that illuminate the inner sides of the arches in red, blue, and green colors. These colored lights shift throughout the evening and give the historic structure a contemporary appearance.
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