Puente de Castrelos, bridge in Galicia, Spain
The Puente de Castrelos is a stone bridge spanning the Lagares River in Vigo, Galicia, measuring roughly 20 meters long with a distinctive round arch. The structure was built from granite blocks and features triangular piers on the sides that serve as buttresses and contribute to its stability.
The exact origin remains unclear, but experts suspect medieval construction, though the local name "Romana" hints at Roman connections. The structure underwent multiple renovations and was declared a Cultural Heritage site in 1991 after restoration work in the 1980s.
Locals call it Ponte Romana, Ponte de Balaídos, Ponte do Lagares and Ponte de Pereiró, names that tie the crossing to the valley and the neighbourhood. The two pairs of triangular cutwaters and the two flood-relief openings on one side show how the bridge was adapted to the Lagares floods. Some conical stones from its approaches are kept in the Museo Quiñones de León.
The bridge is located in an urban area near Castrelos Park and Balaidos Stadium and is easily accessible on foot. The river was canalized in the area, so water now flows north of the original position, keeping the bridge area dry.
The bridge once had up to 60 metres of roadway, of which only about 21.50 metres survive; the rest was lost by the mid-20th century. Two relief openings on one side were built to keep floods from toppling it, and two more are known to have existed.
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