Iron bridge of El Capricho, Madrid, Iron pedestrian bridge in El Capricho Park, Madrid, Spain.

The Iron bridge of El Capricho is a small pedestrian crossing made of metal that spans a stream in the park, consisting of two curved metal arcs supporting wooden steps. The structure demonstrates how engineers of that era created functional passages with simplicity and careful proportion.

The bridge was finished in 1830, one of the last works in the El Capricho estate whose construction ran from 1787 to 1839. It was raised within the recreational property of María Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna (1752-1834), owner of the estate. Iron bridge engineering had not yet spread in Spain, and the next iron bridge in the Madrid region, at Fuentidueña de Tajo, came 38 years later.

The bridge shows how Spain began to adopt new industrial materials in its most refined settings, blending modern engineering with garden design. Visitors can observe how iron became a symbol of progress even in aristocratic leisure spaces.

The structure is located within the park interior and can only be reached during park operating hours, which vary by season. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore the grounds and experience the crossing in its garden setting.

The next iron bridge built in the Madrid region was the one at Fuentidueña de Tajo, begun in 1868, 38 years after this one. Because of its small size and simple technique, the title of Spain's first major iron bridge is usually given to the Triana bridge in Seville, started in 1842.